Azerbaycan Zafer Günü'nü Neden 10 Kasım'da Değil 8 Kasım'da Kutluyor?

There is a piece of information that circulates on social media every November: "Azerbaijan had set Victory Day as November 10, but because this date coincided with Atatürk's death anniversary, it was moved to November 8." The narrative is brief, emotional, and memorable. But what do the official documents say?

Here's what's interesting: this narrative is not entirely fabricated, but neither is it complete on its own. Behind the shift between the two dates lies both a sensitivity toward Atatürk and, more importantly, a much stronger reason rooted in Azerbaijan's own military history.

First It Was November 10

The Second Karabakh War, which took place in the fall of 2020, lasted 44 days. The ceasefire came into effect through a trilateral declaration signed on November 10, 2020. This was the date when the war effectively ended.

For this reason, Victory Day was initially set as November 10 in the first decree. The logic was simple: the day the war ended would be counted as the day of victory.

Then It Became November 8

However, this decision did not last long. Through a decree dated December 3, 2020, President Ilham Aliyev moved Victory Day to November 8, and it began to be celebrated on this date every year.

But what had happened on November 8? On that day, the Azerbaijani military captured Şuşa. Şuşa is a city built on a strategically important hill in the mountainous region of Karabakh, with extremely difficult defensive terrain. It is also one of the symbolic cities of Azerbaijani cultural history: the center of poets, musicians, and the mugham tradition. After 28 years of occupation, the recapture of this city was seen by the Azerbaijani public as the turning point of the war.

In other words, November 8 is the date of military success that made victory possible, not the date of the ceasefire. This is the official reason: commemorating a day won on the battlefield rather than a date written at the peace table.

But Is the Atatürk Connection Correct?

It is correct — but not as the sole reason; it is a complementary one.

November 10 is the anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's death. In Turkey, this date is commemorated every year at 9:05 a.m. with sirens, moments of silence, and official ceremonies. At a time when the relationship between Azerbaijan and Turkey was defined by the formula "two states, one nation," a jubilant victory celebration in Baku occurring during mourning ceremonies in Ankara would have created an awkward image.

Indeed, the change was announced in both Azerbaijani and Turkish media within this framework: Aliyev moved Şuşa's liberation day, November 8, to Victory Day out of respect for the fact that November 10 was Atatürk's death anniversary.

Therefore, the correct statement is: Şuşa's liberation provided November 8 with a legitimate and strong foundation; the fact that November 10 was Atatürk's death anniversary made this change inevitable. The two reasons are not alternatives to each other, but complementary.

Where Does the Atatürk Sensitivity in Azerbaijan Come From?

To understand this decision, one must look at how Atatürk is perceived in Azerbaijan. In Azerbaijan, Atatürk is accepted not merely as the founder of a neighboring country, but as a shared historical figure.

In Baku there is a boulevard bearing Atatürk's name, a cultural center, and monuments. Atatürk's influence is not limited to Azerbaijan alone; he influenced many leaders across Asia. The founding of the Turkish Republic is taught as a separate topic in school curricula. Wreaths are laid at the Atatürk monument in Baku on November 10.

This bond has a historical foundation. The entry of the Caucasian Islamic Army into Baku in 1918 was decisive in the process of establishing the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The Turkish Martyrs' Cemetery in Baku is the most visible trace of this period. In other words, the relationship between the two countries rests on a memory that goes far deeper than current politics.

Why Is Şuşa So Important?

It is difficult to understand this historical choice without grasping what Şuşa means to Azerbaijan. The city was founded in the 18th century as the center of the Karabakh Khanate and quickly became the cultural capital of the region.

Mugham, the fundamental form of Azerbaijani music, produced its most renowned performers here. Names such as poet Molla Penah Vagif, composer Üzeyir Hacıbeyov, and artist Bülbül are inseparable from the city. For this reason, Şuşa is often likened to a "conservatory" in Azerbaijani literature.

Its geographic location carries additional significance. The city was built on a rocky plateau above a deep valley; it could only be reached by a few narrow paths. This structure made the city resistant to sieges for centuries, and in 2020 made its capture an extraordinarily difficult military objective.

Therefore, November 8 is understood by the Azerbaijani public not merely as a military date, but as the recapture of a cultural center.

What Is Şuşa Like Today?

Şuşa was declared Azerbaijan's "cultural capital" in 2021. Extensive restoration work is underway in the city; mosques, mansions, and cultural buildings are being repaired. A highway called the "Victory Road" was constructed to improve access from Baku to Şuşa.

The city also hosts music festivals held annually. Visitor access is dependent on special permission and organization; individual tourism to the region is not yet a free and routine process. Therefore, those wishing to visit Şuşa should check current official regulations before traveling.

What a Change of Date Tells

A shift of two days on the calendar seems like a technical detail at first glance. Yet this decision says a great deal about how the relationship between the two countries is constructed: one state, when choosing the day to celebrate its greatest military achievement, takes into account its neighbor's day of mourning.

And for this very reason, it is worth correcting the short version that circulates on social media. Saying "it was changed only because of Atatürk" means overlooking what Şuşa represents to Azerbaijan. Saying "Atatürk has nothing to do with it" means denying a reason that is clearly stated in official announcements and the press.

The truth, as is often the case, lies between the two claims — and when it does, it is more interesting than either one alone.