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Renaissance Square, 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.

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

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
  •  
    Union of Artsakh Freedom Fighters 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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