Ganja: A media tour was recently organized at the newly inaugurated Ganja Memorial Complex, located in the city of Ganja, APA’s local bureau reports. Journalists attending the event were provided with detailed information about the complex, which stands as a poignant reminder of the tragic events during the Patriotic War.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the city of Ganja, situated 80 kilometers from the front line, faced relentless attacks from the Armenian armed forces using “Tochka-U,” “Smerch,” “SCUD,” and other missile systems on multiple occasions in October during the war. These attacks tragically resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including six children, and injured 142 others. The memorial has been constructed on the site of one of these missile strikes and spans an area of 4 hectares. Its unique architectural design, featuring a spiral shape, symbolizes the crater left by a rocket, while the open square area preserves remnants of the destroyed buildings as part of a special installation.
The complex includes a crescent-shaped two-story building with a total area of 2,400 square meters. The first floor houses a museum exposition, and the second floor features a multifunctional hall designed for seminars, training sessions, and various events. The museum’s halls cover themes such as ‘Early 20th Century,’ ‘Deportation and Internal Displacement,’ ‘Genocide and Mass Murders,’ ‘Ceasefire and Patriotic War Period,’ ‘Missing Persons, Mass Graves, Mine Terror,’ and ‘Towards a Bright Future.’
Visitors are introduced to historical facts about the tragedies of the early 20th century, including the March Genocide of 1918, and the mass deportation of Azerbaijani citizens from Western Azerbaijan between 1948 and 1953. An interactive section offers access to archival materials, historical documents, and examples of destroyed cultural heritage.
Subsequent sections provide insight into the ethnic cleansing, genocides, and systematic massacres against the Azerbaijani people from 1987 to 1994. There is also a dedicated section on the deliberate targeting of civilians during the ceasefire years, the Patriotic War, and its aftermath.
The exhibition concludes by honoring the resilience and determination of the Azerbaijani people, highlighting their perseverance and spirit of victory despite enduring years of injustice. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, was present for the opening of the Ganja Memorial Complex on September 27, Remembrance Day.