September 15 has entered our history as a glorious day of victory when Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, was liberated from Armenian-Bolshevik armed formations.
Sea-news.az reports that 108 years ago—on September 15, 1918—the Army of Islam under the command of Nuru Pasha and Azerbaijani soldiers entered Baku and liberated the city from occupation. With this magnificent victory, Azerbaijan’s independence was fully secured, and the dominance of Armenian-Bolshevik Dashnak forces in Baku and surrounding regions was brought to an end.
Despite the declaration of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in May 1918, the country’s capital and important regions remained under the control of Armenians and Bolsheviks. The young and internationally unrecognized republic had limited capabilities to restore its territorial integrity on its own.
In such a difficult and grave period, brotherly Ottoman Turkey, despite its own severe military and political situation, did not leave Azerbaijan alone. Deployed under the command of Nuru Pasha, Ottoman military forces displayed peerless bravery in August-September 1918 and honorably fulfilled their historical duty. Despite protests from European states, during these military operations carried out to liberate Baku, the Ottoman troops gave 1,130 martyrs.
The liberation of Baku sparked genuine celebrations throughout the city. The famous millionaire and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev organized a grand banquet in honor of the Turkish army in the building of the present-day State Philharmonic, presenting valuable gifts to Nuru Pasha and the heroic commanders.
Just two days after this historic triumph—on September 17—the capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was moved from Ganja to Baku, marking the launch of the main phase of state-building in the country.
September 15 is also a sacred date that laid the foundation of Azerbaijani-Turkish brotherhood and strategic alliance. After our country restored its independence, commemorative ceremonies are held every year on September 15 at the Turkish Martyrdom Monument erected in the Alley of Martyrs in Baku, where the cherished memory of the Turkish soldiers who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and freedom is deeply revered.
