Azerbaijani parliament member Vasif Gafarov proposed renaming all streets in the country with Soviet-era names.
"Today, many of our cities and towns, including Baku and its environs, still retain street names from the Soviet era, which carry ideological connotations alien to our values and inconsistent with our national identity. In this regard, I believe it would be appropriate to reconsider the issue of renaming streets bearing Bolshevik names and replace them with names that reflect the history of Azerbaijan, prominent figures, and national values. I believe this approach will contribute to both the restoration of our historical memory and the formation of the national spirit of future generations," the MP stated.
Last year, the Azerbaijani public debated the advisability of placing a memorial plaque in central Baku dedicated to the Soviet past.
Professor Boran Aziz of the Department of History at Baku State University argued that preserving such plaques is unacceptable.
"The Russian Communist Party of Bolsheviks was an enemy of the Azerbaijani people and their independence. This party was an organ that sought to overthrow the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and once again turn Azerbaijan into a Russian province," the professor emphasized.
Doctor of Historical Sciences and Member of Parliament Vasif Gafarov also spoke out against the memorial plaque on Baku's main street.
"The current Republic of Azerbaijan is the legal successor and continuer of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, which existed from 1918 to 1920. At that time, the Bolsheviks fought for the fall of the ADR and, with the help of Soviet Russia, sought to occupy and Sovietize Azerbaijan. These plaques commemorate the struggle aimed at occupying our country. Such memorial plaques must definitely be removed," the parliamentarian urged.
