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"Murtuza Mukhtarov House"

The “Murtuza Mukhtarov House,” an exquisite architectural gem in Baku, was constructed in 1911-1912 under the architectural design of I. Ploshko. Originally intended to be designed in an Eastern style by I. Ploshko, M. Mukhtarov opted for a Gothic architectural style for the project.
From a planning perspective, the house boasts a unique and intriguing design. Each element, including columns, arches, landscaping with bushes and flowers, as well as the windows and doors, represents a distinctive work of art, contributing to the building’s status as an architectural pearl.
The initial concept for a subsidized house in Baku, drafted by H. D. Grimm, an architectural academician from Petersburg, won the first prize in a competition held in 1900. However, with the advent of Bolshevik rule, the house was expropriated from its original owners and repurposed as the headquarters of the XI Red Army. Over time, it served various functions, transforming into the A. Bayramov Women’s Club, the Shirvanshahs Museum, and eventually a marriage palace.
The house was officially registered under state ownership by Decision No. 132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 02.08.2001. Subsequently, in 2005, repair and restoration works were carried out on the building, preserving its historical and architectural significance.
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From the pen of historians

In March 1920, during the Nowruz holiday, Armenians initiated large-scale military operations on various fronts, including Beyuk Vedi, Nakhchivan, Ordubad, Karabakh, and Zangezur, as part of a well-planned strategy. To divert the attention of the Azerbaijani army, engaged in operations alongside insurgent forces in Karabakh, additional troops were deployed from Yerevan to Zangezur. Multiple attacks were launched on Muslim villages. In an attempt to enter the Shusha district, a group of 400 Armenians launched an attack from Gerenzur, targeting the Azerbaijani-populated village of Malkhalaf. However, they were compelled to retreat after sustaining significant losses.

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"Imamzadeh" mosque

Situated approximately 7 kilometers north of the ancient city of Ganja, the Imamzadeh mosque stands as one of Azerbaijan’s most renowned religious centers. Also known as the “Blue Dome,” “Blue Mosque,” or “Blue Imam,” this religious architectural complex is an integral part of the Ganja State Historical and Cultural Reserve. Constructed around the tomb of Imam Mohammad Baghir’s son, Ibrahim, who passed away in the 8th century, the complex holds historical and spiritual significance.
The primary elements of the complex include a tomb building and a cemetery. The mausoleum’s construction utilized red bricks, incorporating characteristic features of the Arran school of architecture. Additional small domed cells flanking the central dome were added later, likely in the XIII-XIV centuries.
Beyond its role as an imamzade, this site, originally designed as a tomb, saw the construction of additional tombs in different periods. Over centuries, the Ganja Imamzadeh’s religious and historical importance has grown, solidifying its reputation as a cherished place of faith and a spiritual haven—acting as a guardian of national values.
During the reign of Ganja Khan Javad Khan Ziyadoglu Qajar (1786-1804), significant repairs were undertaken at the tomb. In the years 2010-2016, the Imamzade Complex underwent extensive reconstruction and restoration, a testament to its enduring significance, under the directive of President Ilham Aliyev.

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An online event dedicated to the Khojaly Genocide was held under the joint organization of the "Genocide Memorial Complex" and the "Pir Huseyin Khanagahi" historical-architectural reserve.

At the webinar held with the participation of the employees of the “Genocide Memorial Complex”, the Pir Huseyn Khanagahi historical-architectural reserve, as well as the reserves operating under the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, the martyrs who died for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan were remembered with a minute’s silence. Later, a film about the Khojaly genocide was watched. Speaking at the event, the Director of the Complex, Dr. Rakhshanda Bayramova stated that the Khojaly genocide is one of the bloodiest tragedies of the 20th century. As a result of this massacre committed by Armenian executioners, innocent people were killed, archaeological, historical-architectural monuments were destroyed. Later, the Director of the Pir Huseyn Khanagahi Historical-Architecture Reserve Maharram Muslimov emphasized that the Khojaly genocide was one of the most terrible massacres in the world in the 20th century, a crime against all humanity, and stated that in order to convey the truth about Khojaly to the world and to recognize this tragedy as an act of genocide against our people, the state of Azerbaijan must do all the necessary takes steps.
The event continued with the reports of the employees of the reserve.

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An educational event on "Tragedy of the Khojaly Century" was held at the "Genocide Memorial Complex" in Guba.

At the event, Fidan Huseynova, chairman of NAP ( New Azerbaijan Party) Guba district organization, director of “Genocide Memorial Complex” in Guba, Dr. Rakhshenda Bayramova and NAP Guba regional organization, as well as employees of the Complex participated. First, the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played. Later, the martyrs who died for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan were remembered with a minute’s silence. The director of the Complex, Dr. Rakhshanda Bayramova, who opened the event with the opening speech, said that the 32nd anniversary of the genocide committed not only against Azerbaijanis, but also against all humanity, humanity, with the participation of the equipment and manpower of the 366th motorized rifle regiment of the former Soviet army, was different from previous years. said that this year it will be commemorated in a new context.
Fidan Huseynova, chairman of NAP Guba district organization, who spoke later, said that on September 27, 2020, the brave Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev avenged the victims of Khojaly and all our martyrs. However, even if years pass and centuries replace each other, the Khojaly genocide will never be erased from the blood memory of our people. During this tragedy, the ancient Azerbaijani city of Khojaly was razed to the ground, children, women, and the elderly were brutally murdered, disappeared, captured, and subjected to indescribable suffering and torture. Thousands of archaeological, historical and architectural monuments were destroyed, our national and spiritual values were vandalized.
The event continued with the presentation of articles prepared by the employees of the Complex on the topic.

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An educational event addressing the subject "Cases of corruption against human rights" took place at the "Genocide Memorial Complex" in the city of Guba. The participants included Bahruz Efendiyev, the head of the Northern Regional Center of the Ombudsman, Dr. Rakhshanda Bayramova, the director of the "Genocide Memorial Complex" in Guba, and approximately 30 employees from the complex.

Rakhshanda Bayramova, as the director, initiated the discussion by highlighting the significance of such educational initiatives. She emphasized the collective responsibility of society in combating corruption in various forms. Following her, Bahruz Efendiyev, the head of the Northern Regional Center of the Ombudsman, provided insights into ongoing reforms aimed at maintaining the continuity of anti-corruption measures in the country. He underlined the importance of preventing situations that could foster bribery. Efendiyev mentioned the approval of the “National Action Plan for 2022-2026 on strengthening the campaign against corruption” by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on April 4, 2022.

The primary objectives outlined in the Action Plan involve enhancing the state structure’s management mechanisms, fostering an anti-corruption environment in the private sector according to international standards, and refining the legislative framework based on progressive international experience. The “National Action Plan” also serves as a unifying platform for various action-oriented institutions engaged in anti-corruption efforts.

The event concluded with an exchange of ideas on topics of interest among the employees of the Complex.

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"Gakh Castle"

Gakh Castle was built by Ilisu sultan Adi-Gorklü Bey in the 16th century for defense purposes, and restored in the 18th century during the visit of Nadir Shah Afshar’s brother Ibrahim Khan to Jar-Balakan.
Inside the castle, built with river stones and lime mortar, there were residential buildings, various workshops, shops and a market. That is why the local population still calls the interior area surrounded by the fort “Icheribazar”. In the 1880s, the blacksmith’s workshop of master Muhammad, the father of prominent composer and public figure Muslim Magomayev, was located here.
During the construction and reconstruction works, the roof coverings of private houses on “Icheribazar” street were renewed, the gate, window, ceiling, column, jugs on the balconies and other parts were reworked from wooden material. The entrance and exit gates of the castle are of great importance in terms of promoting the architectural traditions of our country.
An open-air theater with 300 seats was created on the territory of the complex, 10 workshops for artists, including applied art, woodcarving, weaving, oriental sweets, and an oven were built on the territory of the complex. National souvenirs, painting and graphic works, woodcarving, stone carvings, textiles, souvenir carpets made by local artists are displayed in the sales center of applied art samples operating here.
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British military correspondent Scotland Liddell, who worked in Baku and Tbilisi during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, writes in his article "Armenians against Muslims"

British military correspondent Scotland Liddell, who worked in Baku and Tbilisi during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, writes in his article “Armenians against Muslims”:
In the graphic of february an article is published under the heading, “The Armenians of Karabagh.” The information, you state, was furnished by Mr. Tigron Nazarian, an Armenian, of course, so that one is not surprised to find it Armenian propaganda. And, alas! one is not surprised to find this propaganda false.
As regards the history, geography and natural riches of Karabagh I have nothing to say. But, as Nazarian’s visit to London is in order that he can urge on the Peace Conference the Armenian request that Karabagh be included politically in the Armenian and not in the Azerbaijan Republic, and as the figures he gives regarding the population of Karabagh are of vital importance in this respect, I must point out that they are grossly untrue..
Nazarian says that there are 198,000 Armenians and 80,000 Tartars in Karabagh. Professor Schepotieff, an authority, with no political axe to grind, has proved in a recent article that the present population of Karabagh is 415,000 Mussulmans as com- pared with only 170,000 Armenians. But …so many innocent Mussulman peasants have recently been massacred by the Armenian troops that even Schepotieff’s figures may be truthfully disputed.
To-day the Armenian regular troops are carrying on a war against Mussulman partisans in Karabagh. For the bloodshed that is taking place, even as I write, the Armenians, and the Armenians alone, are to blame. Although the province of Karabagh was placed under Azerbaijan administration by the British authorities until such a time as the future status of the province would be decided by the Peace Conference, the Armenian leaders and agitators for a long time refused to acknow- ledge Mussulman rule and strove in every way to incite the peaceful Armenian popu- lation against the Azerbaijan Government.
HIS constant agitation and this provoca-tion led on several occasions to fighting.
In November of last year an agreement was signed in Tiflis between the Azerbaijan and Armenian Governments. By this it was arranged that all fighting would cease and that both sides would await in peace the Conference’s decree The Azerbaijan Republic faithfully kept to this agreement. The Azerbaijan troops were withdrawn from Zangezour, but no sooner had this been done than the Armenians very treacherously attacked the Mussulman villages, massacred hundreds of innocent peasants, and within a few weeks had succeeded in destroying over forty Mussulman villages. Azerbaijan has been very patient and long-suffering. But there is a limit to a Government’s patience. War has for long seemed inevitable. Now, on March 22, the Armenians, taking advantage of the Mussul- man festival of Novruz Bairam, and the fact that there were only insignificant Azerbaijan troops, for the purpose of keeping order in Karabagh, have again launched attacks on many Mussulman villages in the province. So far, only partisan troops have opposed them, but I hear on good authority that the Azerbaijan Government is despatching regular troops to the assistance of the unfortunate Mussulman population of the country, who are faced with the threat of complete extirpation at the hands of their “Christian” neighbours.
Armenian propaganda is excellent. Doubtless the many propagandists in England, France and America will take advantage of their losses in the present clash to further their pleas and greedy territorial claims. But we in Trans- Caucasia know what the truth actually is. Surely it is time that the British public knew it too