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Renaissance Square, Stepanakert

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Renaissance Square
Veratsnound
National Assembly
Native nameՎերածննդի հրապարակ (Armenian)
Former name(s)Lenin Square[1]
TypeSquare
Maintained byCity of Stepanakert (Khankendi)
Location Azerbaijan
Coordinates39°49′3″N 46°45′3″E / 39.81750°N 46.75083°E / 39.81750; 46.75083
Construction
Completion1994; 30 years ago (1994)
Other
Known forThe central square of Stepanakert

Renaissance Square (Armenian: Վերածննդի հրապարակ), known commonly as Veratsnound or Revival Square[2] or Victory Square[3] (Azerbaijani: Zəfər meydanı) was the main square in the city of Stepanakert (Khankendi), in Karabakh, Azerbaijan.[4] It was developed in 1994 following the Battle of Shusha and the securing of the area by the Artsakh Defense Army.

History

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Soviet era

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The Presidential Palace, which was the former residence of the President of Artsakh,[5] is the main building in the square. It is the former building of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, having been built in the 1960s.

Artsakh era

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The following landmarks and buildings were located on the square when the city was under Armenian control:[4][6]

The square commonly hosted political and social rallies,[10] weapons exhibitions,[11] New Year's Eve events[12] and processions. During the Shushi Liberation Day celebrations, a military parade of the former Defence Army took place.[13] During a visit to the capital in August 2019, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan led a mass rally on the square with chants of "Unification", which was originally chanted during the Karabakh movement in the late 80s.[14][15]

In Azerbaijani Karabakh

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Azerbaijani Commandos marching past President Ilham Aliyev during a Victory Day parade on 8 November 2023.

Stepanakert came under the control of Azerbaijan on 29 September 2023, after the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh on 19–20 September 2023, which led to the dissolution of the de facto Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.[16][17][18][19] A Victory Day parade took place on the square in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev on 8 November 2023.[20] In early March 2024, Azerbaijani authorities demolished the National Assembly of Artsakh building and the Artsakh Freedom Fighters Union building.[21][22]

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  • Presidential Palace
    Presidential Palace
  • Union of Artsakh Freedom Fighters building.
    Union of Artsakh Freedom Fighters building.
  • National Assembly building.
    National Assembly building.

References

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  1. ^ "The Soviet-era name of the square was Lenin's Square (named after communist idol - Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist revolutionary, politician and political theorist)". Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  2. ^ Holding, Deirdre; Allen, Tom (2018-12-12). Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781784770792.
  3. ^ https://azertag.az/en/xeber/central_square_of_khankendi_named_victory_square-2952497
  4. ^ a b "The main square of Stepanakert".
  5. ^ https://artsakhlib.am/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Stepanakert.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiN0dnbycPyAhWvSTABHUeRAIY4ChAWegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1E0myy3ydQmlmZYiF2x9mg [dead link‍]
  6. ^ Pointon, Matthew (31 October 2017). Among Armenians. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780244043810.
  7. ^ "Xankendi (Stepanakert)".
  8. ^ Holding, Deirdre (September 2014). Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781841625553.
  9. ^ "About Hotel". Armenia Hotel. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  10. ^ "Thousands Gather in Stepanakert to Mark 30th Anniversary of Artsakh Movement". 14 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Weapons' exhibition held in the Renaissance Square of Stepanakert".
  12. ^ https://www.aravot-en.am/2017/12/15/204817/
  13. ^ LLC, Academy Of Development. "Պաշտպանության բանակի զորահանդեսները | ԼՂՀ պաշտպանության նախարարության պաշտոնական կայք". nkrmil.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  14. ^ "Arminfo: Pashinyan began his speech on Renaissance Square in Stepanakert with the chant of the famous conscription - Unification".
  15. ^ "Remarks delivered by PM Nikol Pashinyan at Renaissance Square rally in Stepanakert".
  16. ^ "So-called "police" of separatists, abandons weapons in Khankendi, leaves Karabakh". Trend News Agency. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Presidential consultant in Karabakh shares picture from Azerbaijan's Khankendi". Businesselend.com. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Azerbaijani police takes up serving in Khankendi". News.az. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Armenians describe journey to safety after fall of their homeland". The Independent. 2023-09-29. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-30.
  20. ^ "Military parade dedicated to 3rd anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War was held in city of Khanкendi". President.az. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  21. ^ "Azerbaijanis Destroy Artsakh National Assembly Building". The Armenian Report. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
  22. ^ "Azerbaijanis destroy Karabakh parliament building". News.am. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
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