On November 6, an event "Victory Day: Historical Memory and National Identity" was held at Khazar, jointly by the House of Tolerance and the Department of History and Archaeology. The event was dedicated to the fifth anniversary of Historic Victory in the 44-day Patriotic War.
The event began with a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs and the playing of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In her opening remarks, Khazar University Rector Dr. Raziya Isayeva emphasized that Victory Day is a symbol of the Azerbaijani people's national identity, patriotic spirit, and unity.
Associate Professor Telman Nusratoglu, Head of Khazar University's Department of History and Archaeology, and Fatma Pashazade, Director of the House of Tolerance, delivered speeches. They discussed the historical and spiritual significance of this day and the role of Victory in shaping Azerbaijan's national identity.
Representatives of Azerbaijan's religious communities spoke at the event – Milix Yevdayev (Chairman of the Mountain Jewish Community), Bakhtiyar Najafov (Deputy Chairman of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Mufti of Iravan), Robert Mobili (Chairman of the Albanian-Udi Community), and Toral Agayev (Press Secretary of the Apostolic Prefecture of the Roman Catholic Church) – stating that Azerbaijan's multi-confessional and multicultural values constitute the main pillar of state stability and societal unity.
Khazar University faculty members Dr. Rukhsara Guliyeva and Dr. Yagub Mammadov delivered presentations on "Analysis of Victory Day from the Perspective of International Law Principles" and "Archaeological Research Being Restored in Karabakh: Rewriting History Through Victory," respectively.
In the most emotional part of the event, war veterans and martyrs' families took the floor. Shusa Fatehi Shiraz Hasanov, one of the veterans, spoke about the heroism of his comrades-in-arms, emphasizing that Victory was a triumph of the people's unity and faith. Matleb Samidli, son of martyred Colonel Babak Samidli, who held the Sugovushan Fatehi title and was decorated with the Victory Order, spoke with sincere emotion about his father's combat journey, his unwavering love for the Motherland, and how his ascent to the peak of martyrdom evokes both pride and a sense of responsibility for the family.
Subsequently, a presentation of writer Ilgar Kamil's novel "9th Floor" took place. The work is dedicated to the life of martyred Lieutenant Murad Naghiyev. During the presentation, the author spoke and a short video was screened.
The event concluded with a commemorative photograph.