Azerbaijan’s President Triumphantly Declares “We Demonstrated Our Might to the Entire World” at Karabakh Military Parade

In a display of strength and triumph, hundreds of Azerbaijani soldiers marched through Khankendi, the capital city of the Karabakh region. This region had recently come under full control of Azerbaijan in September, following a swift defeat of ethnic Armenian forces. Tanks and military equipment seized from the Armenian forces were also showcased during the parade.

Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, expressed his pride in the Azerbaijani people’s unwavering spirit and determination in his address at the parade. Khankendi, previously known as Stepanakert to Armenians, served as the headquarters for the self-proclaimed separatist government of Nagorno-Karabakh. The ethnic Armenians had gained control of the region and its surrounding territories in 1994, after a separatist war.

However, in 2020, Azerbaijan managed to reclaim parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and most of the surrounding territory after a six-week war. The conflict was resolved through a Russia-brokered truce between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which included the deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces in the Khankendi area. The truce also aimed to ensure unrestricted transit along a road connecting the city with Armenia.

Despite the truce agreement, Azerbaijan initiated a blockade of the road last winter, resulting in severe shortages of food and medicine in the Armenian-held area. In September, Azerbaijan launched a rapid offensive that led to the disbandment of the separatist forces.

The aftermath of the offensive saw over 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing the region, leaving the once-thriving city nearly deserted. The parade served as a commemoration of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day, a holiday celebrating the successful retaking of territory in 2020.