A ceremony marking the 108th anniversary of Baku’s liberation from Bolshevik forces and Dashnak units has been held in Ankara.

Axar.az reports that the event was organized with the support of Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Ankara and the Turkiye-Azerbaijan Friendship, Cooperation and Solidarity Foundation (TADIV).

Ahead of the ceremony at the Shusha Congress Center, a monument dedicated to the soldiers of the Caucasian Islamic Army was unveiled.

Turkish National Defense Minister Yashar Guler said he was proud to attend the unveiling of the monument dedicated to the heroes of Turkiye and Azerbaijan, expressing confidence that it would become another bridge connecting the brotherly peoples of Turkiye and Azerbaijan.

TADIV Chairwoman Professor Aygun Attar briefed participants on the historical role of the Caucasian Islamic Army in liberating Baku from Armenian nationalists, Dashnaks and Bolsheviks in 1918.

Attar emphasized the importance of unity, solidarity and alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkiye under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

She also announced the creation of an electronic database of archival documents on the Caucasian Islamic Army.

Shamil Ayrim, head of the Turkiye-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group, called for the efforts of all Turkic states to be united and highlighted the historical significance of National Leader Heydar Aliyev’s phrase, “One nation, two states.”

Eldar Aliyev, an adviser at Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Ankara, stressed that the spirit of brotherhood demonstrated by the soldiers of the Caucasian Islamic Army continues to live on today.

The event continued with presentations by scholars and experts on the subject.