A Solemn Ceremony Dedicated to the 5th Anniversary of Victory Day Held at UNEC
A solemn ceremony dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the historic Victory achieved by the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Patriotic War was held at UNEC.
The event was attended by members of the UNEC community, participants of the Patriotic War, families of martyrs, war veterans, and other distinguished guests.
Prior to the official programme, participants visited the memorial complex erected in honor of UNEC’s fallen students and alumni, laid flowers before it, and paid deep respect to the cherished memory of the heroic sons of the Motherland.
Opening the ceremony, UNEC Rector, Professor Adalat Muradov, emphasized that the glorious victory gained during the 44-day Patriotic War represents one of the brightest and most dignified pages in the history of Azerbaijan. The Rector noted that through this Victory, Azerbaijan not only liberated its territories, but also demonstrated its national pride and the unshakable will and determination of the Azerbaijani people to the entire international community.
Professor Muradov further stated that the moral architect and visionary of this historic triumph was the National Leader Heydar Aliyev: “The national ideology, philosophy of statehood, and strong army-building policy that formed the foundation of his farsighted strategy established robust pillars for Azerbaijan’s road to Victory. We are a proud nation that has fulfilled the sacred mission of the Great Leader,” he emphasized.
The Rector underlined that the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, who has responsibly and successfully continued the political course of the National Leader, plays an irreplaceable role in the destiny of the Azerbaijani state and nation. He noted that the President’s proclamation ‘Karabakh is Azerbaijan!’ was not merely a message, but rather a call that awakened the spirit of a nation and transformed centuries-long longing into confidence and hope. Stressing that the price of Victory was the blood of martyrs and the heroism of veterans, Professor Muradov described them as the eternal heroes of the Motherland and the enduring symbols of national resilience. He added that in the five years that have passed since Victory, Azerbaijan has embarked upon a period of unity, renewal, and advancement:“Today, our liberated territories are witnessing not only the triumph of war, but also that of peace and grand reconstruction. The large-scale restoration under way in Karabakh and East Zangezur constitutes the pride map of Azerbaijan,” the Rector stated.
Lieutenant General Babak Gurbanov, Head of the Central Office of the State Border Service and Hero of the Patriotic War, then addressed the audience. He spoke about the victory achieved under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, underscoring the heroism of the Armed Forces and the unshakeable unity of the Azerbaijani people. He noted that the State Border Service successfully fulfilled all assigned combat missions during the Patriotic War and that Azerbaijani border guards demonstrated exemplary heroism in the liberation of the territories.
Nizami Zalov, father of UNEC alumnus and martyr Vidadi Zalov, stated that, thanks to the heroism of martyrs and veterans, Azerbaijan ended its 30-year longing for its lands. He expressed profound pride in being a citizen of a victorious state.
Rashad Imranov, a fourth-year student of UNEC’s Center for Part-Time and Continuing Education and a veteran of the Patriotic War, spoke about the glorious path to Victory and the unforgettable pages of heroism written during those historic days. He emphasized that the spirit of those days continues to instill pride and fortitude in the Azerbaijani people, and that this history of heroism will forever serve as an exemplary model for younger generations.
Following the official addresses, members of the UNEC Creative Center presented an artistic composition entitled “The Road to Victory.”
The ceremony concluded with a solemn concert programme delivered with the accompaniment of the orchestra of the Heydar Aliyev Military Institute of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conducted by military bandmaster, Captain Mushfig Sultanov.