18th Anniversary of the liberation of Shushi, Nagorno-Karabakh

A ceremony took place on May 9th to recognise the 18th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi from Azeri control. Signs of the years of war are still very evident. Shushi, Nagorno-Karabakh, 13/05/2010

The 18th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi by the Armenians from Azeri rule was marked by a ceremony in the main square. Similar services took place in Stepanakert and Yerevan. The war was to continue for a further 2 years.

The city of Shushi is located on a mountain top so is strategically very advantageous.Whilst most of the city is surrounded by walls and the approach is controllable, the Azeris did not count on the bravery of the Armenians to scale the precipitous gully at the back of the city.

In 2010 the city is poverty stricken and shows abundant memories of that war period. Whilst much money has been invested into Stepanakert, relatively little has gone into this old, and important city. The church has been renovated back to its former glory as the key religious centre for Nagorno-Karabakh, whilst still showing scars from the war.

There is an intention to move the capital from Stepanakert to Shushi and to re-invigorate its historical status as a cultural and academic focus for the region. Much work needs to be done for it to achieve this status and the war with Azerbijan remains a threat. The people have enjoyed a form of peace for sixteen years and further conflict with Azerbijan will serve little purpose to the people of the area.