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In 2025, within the framework of the "Constitution and Sovereignty Year," a large-scale tree planting campaign was held under the initiative of the Genocide Memorial Complex and with the support of the Guba Regional Forestry Center.

 

The campaign, organized under the slogan “One Tree – A Thousand Breaths,” took place on October 14 in the village of Khujbala at the stadium named after the martyr Hero Sanan Nəsimi oglu. The event was attended by the “Genocide Memorial Complex,” the Guba-Khachmaz Regional Department of Youth and Sports, the Guba Entrepreneurs Support Association (GESA), the Khujbala Executive Power, and the Khujbala Municipality. Over 300 trees were planted during the campaign. The family of the martyr Sanan Gahramanov also participated in the tree planting campaign.

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As part of the 3rd Guba Symposium on "Reserves and Museums: A Bridge from the Past to the Future," the authors of the accepted scientific papers continue their presentations in the sectional meetings. The authors are discussing topics related to the activities of reserves and museums, the organization of work within these institutions, how reserves and museums are keeping up with modern times, the application of artificial intelligence in this field, and other related subjects.

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The 3rd Guba Symposium titled "Reserves and Museums – A Bridge from the Past to the Future"

For several years now, symposia, conferences, forums, and exhibitions have been regularly held in Guba city at the “Genocide Memorial Complex” with the broad participation of the public. Today, the 3rd Guba Symposium titled “Reserves and Museums – A Bridge from the Past to the Future” has started its work at the complex.

The symposium is organized by the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the “Genocide Memorial Complex” in Guba. The event was attended by Saida Abasova, the Deputy Head of the Guba District Executive Authority, Sabuhi Bashirov, Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection at the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Sadagat Aliyeva, Vice Rector for Science and Creative Affairs, Honored Cultural Worker, and Associate Professor of the Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts, local administrators, leaders of cultural institutions operating in the country, museum staff, historical monument custodians, intellectuals, and young activists.

After an exhibition featuring works by Azerbaijani Artists’ Union members – Sahib Guliyev and Vugar Guliyev, the symposium officially began.

The Director of the complex, Dr. Rakhshanda Bayramova, greeting the participants, shared that the “Genocide Memorial Complex” has been operating in Guba since 2013. Over the course of 12 years, the complex has hosted more than 1 million visitors, including over 200,000 foreigners. Regular symposia, conferences, and forums have been organized at the complex. Dr. Bayramova noted that the symposium plays a crucial role in the development of reserve and museum work, the protection of monuments, guidance services, and increasing public interest in reserves and museums.

In her speech, Saida Abasova, Deputy Head of the Guba District Executive Authority, emphasized that the knowledge and experience gained through the symposium would contribute to enhancing the quality of reserve and museum work in the region and the country, and further successes in the preservation of historical and cultural heritage.

Sabuhi Beshirov, Head of the Department of Cultural Heritage Protection at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, also addressed the audience, discussing various projects implemented by the Ministry related to the protection, restoration, and promotion of historical and cultural monuments, and the use of these monuments at both national and international levels.

Subsequent speakers highlighted the significance of the symposium and emphasized that museums and reserves play a crucial role in preserving our cultural heritage and passing it on to future generations.

After the official part, during the sectional meetings that continued throughout the day, scientific discussions were held on topics such as “The Historical and Contemporary Role of Reserves and Museums,” “Cultural Heritage Preservation and Digitization,” “Monument Restoration and Conservation,” “Museology and Education,” “Exhibit Presentation and Innovative Approaches in Reserves and Museums,” “Guidance and Visitor Experience Enhancement,” “Increasing Public Interest in Reserves and Museums and Reserve-Museum Marketing,” “Reserve and Museum Management and Strategic Leadership,” “Inclusivity and Accessibility in Reserves and Museums,” “Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies in Reserves and Museums,” “Opportunities for Global and Local Cooperation between Reserves and Museums,” “Promoting Reserves and Museums on Social Media,” “The Relationship Between Literature and Reserves/Museums: Interactive Presentation of Historical and Cultural Heritage,” and “Musical Presentations in Reserves and Museums.”

It is worth mentioning that around 80 scientific papers were presented within the framework of the symposium, with more than 100 participants attending, and a collection of materials from the symposium has been prepared.

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An exhibition titled “Our Cultural Heritage Yesterday and Today – Karabakh Monuments” has been organized in Quba, Qusar, and Khachmaz.

 

The organized exhibitions were attended by directors, teachers, and students from the Quba, Qusar, and Khachmaz Children’s Art and Music Schools, as well as employees of the Quba District Centralized Library System. The participants familiarized themselves with the photo exhibition titled “Our Cultural Heritage: Yesterday and Today – Karabakh Monuments,” prepared by the Genocide Memorial Complex. At the opening of the exhibition, Abutalib Turabov, an employee of the Complex, spoke about its activities and emphasized that the exhibition plays an important role in educating the youth on the restoration and preservation of our cultural heritage. Experts from the Complex — Ülkər Zeynalova, Zərifə Ağarzayeva, and Səriyyə Abidova — spoke about the study, protection, and restoration of historical monuments in our country, the promotion of cultural samples internationally, and the conservation and reconstruction work being carried out at hundreds of historical and cultural monuments throughout the country, thanks to the attention and care of President Ilham Aliyev. They noted that restoration and construction works in Karabakh and the liberated territories are carried out systematically and with planned projects. The restoration of monuments damaged during the occupation is not merely a construction process. It also represents the restoration of our nation’s identity and the reacquisition of lost values. Every monument, every stone, is a memory. Restoring these monuments teaches us not to forget our past and helps us build a stronger and more resilient future.

At the end, a discussion was held addressing questions from the exhibition participants. It should be noted that more than 100 people were educated at the exhibition held in Quba city, organized by the initiative of the Genocide Memorial Complex and supported by the Quba-Khachmaz Regional Culture Department.

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On September 26, 2025, an event dedicated to September 27 – Remembrance Day was held.

A webinar dedicated to September 27 – Remembrance Day was held, organized by the Genocide Memorial Complex and moderated by Mehriban Aliyeva, the Deputy Director of the Complex. More than 45 employees from various reserves under the State Service for the Protection, Development, and Restoration of Cultural Heritage participated in the event.

The webinar discussed Azerbaijan’s historical heritage, patriotism, the immortalization of the memory of martyrs, and educational activities carried out in this direction. At the event, Subhan Talibli, a leading researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Ziya Bunyadov of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, candidate of historical sciences, and associate professor, gave a detailed report on the 44-day Patriotic War that began on September 27, 2020. He touched upon the causes and course of the war, as well as Azerbaijan’s process of restoring historical justice, stating that the cherished memory of the martyrs will always live on in the nation’s memory.

Finally, a discussion was held on the topic.

 

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On September 26, 2025, a camp for youth with physical disabilities was organized in the Quba district under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan.As part of their visit, the participants toured the Genocide Memorial Complex in Quba city. During the visit, they were provided with detailed information about the events of 1918, including the tragic genocide committed against the Azerbaijani people.The visit aimed to raise awareness among the youth about the importance of remembering national history and honoring the memory of those who lost their lives.

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The Contract of the Century - September 20, 1994

After Azerbaijan restored its independence in 1991, it embarked on the path of development in various sectors. However, the efficient exploitation of the country’s greatest natural resource, oil, and its export to foreign markets required serious attention. At that time, Azerbaijan’s economy was still in a difficult situation after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and it was impossible to overcome this situation without foreign investments.
Thanks to the political foresight and diplomatic skills of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, on September 20, 1994, a contract was signed in Baku, the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, involving eight countries and 13 of the most prominent oil companies for the joint development of the rich Azeri, Chirag, and Gunashli oil fields in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. He described this document, called the “Contract of the Century,” as “a historical agreement that strengthens Azerbaijan’s independence and is aimed at the future.”
The “Contract of the Century” not only brought wealth and development to Azerbaijan but also secured long-term stability and a strategic position, defining the role the country would play in global energy politics in the 21st century.
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Gobustan Rock Art

The Gobustan area is located approximately 60 kilometers from the city of Baku. In the Büyükdağ, Kiçikdağ, and Cingirdag massifs here, rock engravings that have been preserved for millennia have been discovered. The Gobustan rock art is one of the brightest examples of the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people.
The Gobustan rock engravings date back to various periods, ranging from the 5th to the 8th millennium BCE to the Middle Ages. Since 1939, under the leadership of scientist Ishaq Jafarzadeh, along with C. Rustamov, F. Muradova, and other archaeologists, the first archaeological studies of the Gobustan petroglyphs began. As a result of the archaeological excavations conducted since that time, over 7,000 rock engravings, as well as ancient settlements, caves, up to 40 mounds, artifacts from the Mesolithic period, and more than 100,000 items of material culture, have been discovered.
The Gobustan rock art, which attracts significant interest, is a unique monument reflecting the lifestyle, worldview, and cultural development of humanity thousands of years ago. These engravings, mainly depicting hunting scenes, various animal figures, humans, dance scenes, religious rituals, and ship representations, reveal that the ancient inhabitants of Gobustan engaged in hunting, animal husbandry, and fishing, while also engraving their customs and traditions on stones. The depiction of dancing men and women shows that they celebrated together during festivals and ceremonies. The ship engravings prove that ancient people used the Caspian Sea for travel and fishing. Some of the engravings even depict cosmic symbols such as the sun and the moon. Additionally, an ancient Latin inscription from the late 1st century CE was found on a stone here, which indicates that Gobustan was located along the routes of various civilizations.
As a result, the Gobustan rock engravings are a rare example of our people’s ancient historical memory, cultural heritage, and artistic thought. These monuments are an invaluable treasure for us to better understand our past and pass it on to future generations, serving as a living museum that proves to the world how ancient and rich Azerbaijan’s roots are.
In 2007, the Gobustan rock art was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which marks the international recognition of Azerbaijan’s ancient history. Currently, the Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve attracts not only Azerbaijani citizens but also tourists from various countries around the world.
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12 years have passed since the establishment of the Genocide Memorial Complex in the city of Quba.

On April 1, 2007, during construction work on the grounds of the Quba city stadium, a mass grave was discovered. Starting from July of the same year, archaeological research began on the site — covering an area of 514 square meters — conducted by specialists from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. As a result of the excavations, two wells and two canals filled with human remains were uncovered. In September 2008, the research was completed, and it was determined that the mass grave was directly connected to the 1918 genocide perpetrated by Armenian armed groups against the local civilian population. On December 30, 2009, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of the Genocide Memorial Complex in Quba. With the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the memorial was built on the left bank of the Gudyalchay River and was officially inaugurated on September 18, 2013. The opening ceremony was attended by President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva. The 3.5-hectare complex consists of five sections:

  1. Memorial Monument
  2. Symbolic Cemetery
  3. Genocide Museum
  4. Flag Square
  5. Information Center

It is worth noting that since its opening, the Genocide Memorial Complex has been visited by over 1 million people, including more than 200,000 foreign visitors. Detailed information is provided to both local and international guests in four languages: Azerbaijani, Russian, English, and Arabic.