The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan has addressed a video appeal to the international audience about Karabakh horses.

Axar.az reports citing APA that the video appeal which prepared in the English language and sent to the official accounts of international organizations in social networks reflects that Karabakh horses, one of the most famous Azerbaijani national breed of horses, have been expelled from their environment which lived there thousands of years as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan.

According to the Tural Ganjaliyev, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus noted in his writings that strong and elegant horses were in the vast area called Midia.

"The main feature distinguishing Karabakh horse from other breeds is that they do not like to live indoors. Through the centuries Karabakh horses have preserved its originality despite interaction with Roman, Arabian, Mongol and Persian breeds. The beauty of the Karabakh horses is praised in the famous epic story of Azerbaijani people called the Book of Dede Gorgud. While visiting Shusha of Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan in 1865, the famous Russian artist Vasili Vereshagin was deeply impressed by the magnificence and charm of the horses of Mehdigulu khan of Karabakh", Mr Ganjaliyev noted in the video.

Mr Chairman emphasized that Karabakh horses were considered the pearls of the plains of Karabakh which is called Jidir Duzu in Shusha: "Karabakh horse races were held twice in a year with the initiative of Ibrahim Khan of Karabakh starting from the 18th century. These races fascinated many travelers, historians, merchants, and statesmen from all over the world and they came to Jidir plain in Shusha to see these attractive horses. The Chovgan games, similar to the world famous Polo game, were used to be held at Jidir plains with the participation of the Karabakh horses up until the occupation of Azerbaijani lands."

In 2013 UNESCO included Azerbaijani Chovgan in the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the need of urgent safeguarding. In the 1860s and 1870s, the horses were awarded at the exhibitions in Moscow and Paris. In 1956, an important event took place in the history of Karabakh horses. “Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has gifted the Karabakh horse called Zaman. After this event, the fame of Karabakh horses spread all over Europe.

Chairman of the Azerbaijani Community of the Nagorno Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan said that Armenian military aggression against Azerbaijan forced these horses out of Karabakh and stayed away from their places of almost 30 years: "Today, Azerbaijani Government implements various state programs for keeping the unique breeds of rare Karabakh horses, despite the fact that Nagorno Karabakh region is under Armenian occupation. We strongly believe that after our return to Nagorno Karabakh and the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, Jidir Duzu will host again most spectacular horse races with the participation of both Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.