Azerbaijan celebrates National Revival Day

On November 17, Azerbaijan celebrates a national holiday known as National Revival Day.

In 1988, on this day, the first mass protest rallies against the policies of the central authorities of the USSR began on Lenin Square (today Freedom Square) in Baku. For the first time, slogans with the words “sovereignty” and “independence” were heard, and the tricolor flag of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was raised.

A few days later, the square was cordoned off by internal troops; later the protesters were dispersed, and many were arrested.

Almost two years later, on October 18, 1991, the state independence of Azerbaijan was restored.

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