Maiden Tower

The most majestic and mysterious monument of Baku is Giz Galasy – the Maiden Tower rising in the south-eastern part of the fortress of Ichari Shahar. This unique building of the Azerbaijani architecture does not have any analogues in the East. The Maiden Tower has attracted attention by its majestic appearance for centuries in the historical center of Baku, in the territory of the Icheri Sheher (Old City). The Maiden’s Tower is situated in the South-East part of the Icheri sheher. This unique monument of Azerbaijan architecture was built in two periods. Most Azerbaijani scholars think the lower part of the monument, the first 13.7 metres, dates from VII-VI centuries BC.

The height of the tower is 29.5 metres and the diameter 16.5 metres. The thickness of the walls is five metres at the base and four at the top. The tower is an eight-storeyed cylindrical-shaped block of coastal rock. Each of the eight floors of the tower is crowned with a stone cupola with a round hole. The floors are connected by means of a stone staircase built into the walls. Day light penetrates the tower through narrow windows, wider on the inside. From the first floor there are some niches in the walls inside which was a clay pipe, 30 cm in diametre. A well 21 metres deep can be accessed from the second floor. In the southwest part of the tower are some inscriptions written in kufi print which is translated as “The Tower of Masud, Davud’s Son”.

Yasin for Martyrs of January 20

In the memory of our sons perished on 20 January 1990 while defending the freedom and the independence of Azerbaijan and by their bravery made a vivid history in the chronicle of heroism of our country.  May God Rest their Souls in Peace! 

March 31 – Genocide of the Azerbaijanis

Over a long period Azerbaijanis have repeatedly incurred planned genocides. As a result of massive departation and slaughter, today there’s not an Azerbaijani in modern Armenia, where historically the majority of the population were Azerbaijanis.

Since the early 20th century Armenian chauvinists, who were supported first by the Russian Tsar, then the Soviet Union, aimed to clear the South Caucasus of local people in the hope of creating “Greater Armenia”. As a result of frequent crimes of Genocide by the Armenians, two million Azerbaijanis were deported, 1.5 million were killed and ancient settlements, including historical monuments, were destroyed.

According to the Gulustan treaty (1813) and Turkmenchay treaty (1828), concluded between Russia and Iran, as well as Edirne Treaty (1829) between Russia and Ottoman Empire, 125.000 Armenians migrated from Turkey and Iran to Azerbaijani territories. 

Our Bloody History – January 20

What happened on 20 January 1990 was an act of terror by a totalitarian regime. The crime committed against the Azerbaijanis is, in fact, a crime against mankind, against humanity.

The people were infuriated by the territorial claims and aggressive acts of Armenia, backed by the Soviet officials, against Azerbaijan, as well as by the anti-nationalist behavior of the local authorities. Azerbaijanis were being expelled from the land where they had lived for centuries. Since 1988 the national movement for liberty grew. This was a protest against the policy of the USSR and, as a result, for the independence of Azerbaijan. Thousands of people protesting against the policy of held demonstrations all day long in the central square (Now called Azadliq or Freedom Square) and the streets of Baku.