Freedom Square, Baku
Encyclopedia
Azadliq Square in Baku
is the biggest city-centre square in Azerbaijan
. It lies next to Baku Boulevard
.
, was laid in 1960–70s, after construction of the Government House of Baku
was finished in 1952 and monument to Lenin was erected in front of it in 1955. Along with the square, Baku authorities constructed several buildings including "Azerbaijan" and "Absheron" hotels encircling the square. The Lenin monument sculpted by D.M. Garyaghdi was demounted in early 1990s after the beginning of Azerbaijani independence movement and Black January
tragedy. The square was then also renamed in 1991 to Azadliq Square (Freedom Square) after collapse of Soviet Union
. In 2006, the government sponsored project oversaw renovation works at the Government House
and its vicinity including Azadliq Square. Works lasted until 2010.
since 1988. The events later lead to proclamation of National Revival Day of 17 November 1989. Following the Black January
massacre of civilians in Baku on 20 January 1990, Azadliq Square became the gathering and mourning place for approximately 2 million people who gathered to take the fallen heroes to burial site in Martyrs' Lane
in upper Baku.
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
is the biggest city-centre square in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. It lies next to Baku Boulevard
Baku Boulevard
Baku Boulevard is a promenade that runs parallel to Baku's seafront. Its history goes back more than 100 years, to a time when Baku oil barons built their mansions along the Caspian shore and when the seafront was artificially built up inch by inch.-Location:...
.
History
The square, then named after Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
, was laid in 1960–70s, after construction of the Government House of Baku
Government House, Baku
The Government House of Baku, also known as House of Government, is a government building housing various state ministries of Azerbaijan. It is located on Neftchiler Avenue and faces the Baku Boulevard. The rear side of the building faces busy Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street of central Baku...
was finished in 1952 and monument to Lenin was erected in front of it in 1955. Along with the square, Baku authorities constructed several buildings including "Azerbaijan" and "Absheron" hotels encircling the square. The Lenin monument sculpted by D.M. Garyaghdi was demounted in early 1990s after the beginning of Azerbaijani independence movement and Black January
Black January
Black January , also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown of the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku on January 19–20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
tragedy. The square was then also renamed in 1991 to Azadliq Square (Freedom Square) after collapse of Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. In 2006, the government sponsored project oversaw renovation works at the Government House
Government House, Baku
The Government House of Baku, also known as House of Government, is a government building housing various state ministries of Azerbaijan. It is located on Neftchiler Avenue and faces the Baku Boulevard. The rear side of the building faces busy Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street of central Baku...
and its vicinity including Azadliq Square. Works lasted until 2010.
Buildings and structures
- Government HouseGovernment House, BakuThe Government House of Baku, also known as House of Government, is a government building housing various state ministries of Azerbaijan. It is located on Neftchiler Avenue and faces the Baku Boulevard. The rear side of the building faces busy Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street of central Baku...
- Baku BoulevardBaku BoulevardBaku Boulevard is a promenade that runs parallel to Baku's seafront. Its history goes back more than 100 years, to a time when Baku oil barons built their mansions along the Caspian shore and when the seafront was artificially built up inch by inch.-Location:...
, across the Neftchiler AvenueNeftchiler AvenueNeftchiler Avenue is an arterial road in Baku, Azerbaijan. It begins at the west end of the Bayil district of Baku and continues east until terminating at Javanshir Bridge intersecting Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street....
Events
The square was a place of protests of thousands of Azerbaijani citizens against unjust policies of communist regime and demonstrations against violence against Azerbaijanis in KarabakhKarabakh
The Karabakh horse , also known as Karabakh, is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse. It is named after the geographic region where the horse was originally developed, Karabakh in the Southern Caucasus, an area that is de jure part of Azerbaijan but the highland part of which is currently...
since 1988. The events later lead to proclamation of National Revival Day of 17 November 1989. Following the Black January
Black January
Black January , also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown of the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku on January 19–20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
massacre of civilians in Baku on 20 January 1990, Azadliq Square became the gathering and mourning place for approximately 2 million people who gathered to take the fallen heroes to burial site in Martyrs' Lane
Martyrs' Lane
Martyrs' Lane, Alley of Martyrs or Şəhidlər Xiyabanı , formerly The Kirov Park, is a cemetery and memorial in Baku, Azerbaijan dedicated to those killed by the Soviet Army during Black January and later to those killed in Nagorno-Karabakh War.-History:In the closing days of World War I fighting...
in upper Baku.
See also
- Black JanuaryBlack JanuaryBlack January , also known as Black Saturday or the January Massacre, was a violent crackdown of the Azerbaijani independence movement in Baku on January 19–20, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union....
- Azerbaijani independence movement
- Mayoralty of BakuMayoralty of BakuThe mayoralty of Baku houses the executive authority of Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, being the residence of the mayor. It is a Baroque building, built in the beginning of the 20th century....
- Neftchiler AvenueNeftchiler AvenueNeftchiler Avenue is an arterial road in Baku, Azerbaijan. It begins at the west end of the Bayil district of Baku and continues east until terminating at Javanshir Bridge intersecting Uzeyir Hajibeyov Street....