Today, November 17, is National Revival Day in Azerbaijan.

Axar.az reports that this holiday is related to the national liberation movement that began in Baku in November-December 1988.

At that time, the anti-Soviet people's movement was formed in Azerbaijan as a result of the anti-Azerbaijan policy of the USSR leadership around the Karabakh issue. On November 17, 1988, long-term rallies of the Azerbaijani people began in "Azadlig", considered the main square of Baku (former Lenin Square - ed.). A large number of people gathered in the square and opposed Moscow's anti-Azerbaijani policy. Although the rallies were destroyed by the internal troops of the USSR in early December, Moscow could not stop the national liberation movement of the Azerbaijani people.

The Supreme Soviet's adoption of the Constitutional Act on Azerbaijan's sovereignty in September 1989 further irritated Moscow, and on January 19-20, 1990, troops were deployed to Baku. Heavy equipment and firearms were used against the rally participants. Hundreds of protesters and civilians were killed. But this event could not break the national pride of our people. On the contrary, it accelerated the freedom movement.

On October 18, 1991, it was announced that the state independence of Azerbaijan was restored. In a short period of time, the USSR troops, who were a real threat to the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, were withdrawn from Azerbaijan.

On November 17, 1990, the first session of the Supreme Council of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was held. The words "soviet" and "socialist" were removed from the name of the autonomous republic. Removing the words "Soviet" and "Socialist" from the name of Nakhchivan at a time when the empire had not yet been erased from history was a huge historical step towards gaining our independence. With this, national leader Heydar Aliyev took the first big step towards the revival of our national statehood. The issue of the state symbols of the Autonomous Republic was also discussed at that historical session chaired by the great leader Heydar Aliyev. After the discussion of the People's Deputies, a proposal was made regarding the adoption of the tricolor flag as a state symbol. The session that issued a decision on the restoration of the tricolor flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic filed a petition before the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan regarding its adoption as the state flag. Thus, the beginning of the historical path from national revival to national progress was laid.

National Revival Day was announced on November 17, 1992.

The National Revival Day has been celebrated in the conditions of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan for four years now. Starting from September 27, 2020, as a result of the counter-offensive operations carried out by the Azerbaijani Army, our lands, which were under the enemy's foothold for many years, were liberated.

Ensuring the provisions of the tripartite declaration on September 19, 2023, preventing large-scale provocations committed in the Karabakh economic region, disarming and withdrawing the units of the Armenian armed forces from our territories, neutralizing their military infrastructure, returning civilians to the territories freed from occupation, as well as restoring local anti-terrorist measures have been started in the region in order to ensure the safety of civilian workers and military personnel involved in the construction works and to restore the constitutional structure of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Within the framework of actions lasting a little more than 23 hours, the front-line and deep positions and long-term firing points of the units of the Armenian armed forces, as well as combat vehicles and military objects were destroyed by the use of high-precision weapons. The enemy surrendered by raising a white flag. With this, the constitutional structure was restored in all territories of Azerbaijan.

Currently, all liberated territories are reviving, life is returning to Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur.