Shusha: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslahaty Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov visited the bullet-riddled monuments of renowned Azerbaijani figures Natavan, Bulbul, and Uzeyir Hajibeyli in the city of Shusha. These monuments sustained damage during the Armenian occupation, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov learned that during the occupation, Armenian forces had intended to transport the statues to Armenia to melt them down. The statues were eventually recovered due to the efforts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev. They were brought back to Azerbaijan and temporarily housed in the courtyard of the Museum of Art in Baku. After Shusha’s liberation, the statues were restored to their original locations.