Azerbaijani Embassy Marks the 5th Anniversary of Victory Day and the 140th Anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibeyli in Berlin
With a high-level event at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Berlin on 13 November 2025, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Germany solemnly marked the 5th anniversary of Victory Day and the 140th birthday of composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Around 400 guests attended, including representatives of German authorities, diplomats, military attachés, figures from culture and academia, as well as members of the Azerbaijani and Turkish communities.
The event began with a moment of silence in honor of the fallen, followed by film screenings on Victory Day and the life of Uzeyir Hajibeyli.
Ambassador Aghayev Highlights Importance of Peace and Reconstruction
In his address, Ambassador Nasimi Aghayev recalled the liberation of the city of Shusha on 8 November 2020, which marked the end of years of occupation and the beginning of a new chapter. Victory Day, he said, is “not a day of triumph over others, but a day of reunification, justice, and peace.”
Aghayev noted that Azerbaijan has carried out extensive reconstruction projects in the liberated areas over the past four years: more than 60,000 people already live there; infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and entire communities are being rebuilt from scratch. Azerbaijan has invested over 15 billion US dollars, financed entirely from its own resources.
“Peace Is No Longer a Dream” – Washington Summit Marks Turning Point
Aghayev stated that Azerbaijan and Armenia have now achieved peace. On 8 August 2025, the two sides initialed a corresponding agreement in Washington.
He pointed to concrete confidence-building measures: the lifting of all transit restrictions for Armenian cargo and the recent delivery of wheat from Russia and Kazakhstan to Armenia via Azerbaijani territory. These were “tangible signs that mutual trust can grow.”
“Peace benefits not only our two nations but also sends a powerful message to the world: even the deepest conflicts can be overcome through dialogue, courage, and compromise,” the ambassador said.
140 Years of Uzeyir Hajibeyli – A Cultural Legacy of Global Significance
Another highlight of the event was the celebration of the 140th anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the founder of the first opera and operetta in the Muslim world. Aghayev emphasized the symbolic importance of Shusha—Hajibeyli’s hometown—being free again today.
Franghiz Alizadeh, Chairwoman of the Azerbaijani Composers’ Union, also highlighted Hajibeyli’s extraordinary place in music history and the historic significance of Victory Day for sovereignty and national unity.
Concert Enthralls Audience
A concert program followed, conducted by Ayyub Guliyev, Chief Conductor of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. Distinguished artists Ramil Gasimov, Inara Babayeva, and tar virtuoso Sakhavat Mammadov performed works by Hajibeyli, Fikrat Amirov, and European classical composers, accompanied by the Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.
The finale — Müslüm Magomayev’s iconic Azerbaijan — brought the audience to its feet, closing the night to sustained applause.
Video Report of the Event: https://youtu.be/DsiXI7gARRQ
