A group of lecturers and students of Azerbaijan University visited the Memorial Complex of Genocide located in Guba city. Also, the scientific seminar was held in the information center of the Complex as part of the trip organized in connection with March 31 - Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.

First, a basket of flowers was placed in front of the monument erected on the territory of the Complex, where the victims of the genocide were buried, and their memories were commemorated. Then the academic staff and students visited the symbolic cemetery and the Genocide Museum.

Apple trees symbolizing Guba were planted in the symbolic cemetery, and 40 marble stones were placed as a sign of respect for the memory of the victims of the tragedy. In the Genocide Museum, lecturers and students got acquainted with materials and facts reflecting the peaceful life in Guba until the events of March 1918, as well as the scale of the massacres and the horror of these events, and they were informed in detail about the genocides committed not only in Guba district, but also in other districts of Baku Governorate.

Opening the scientific seminar, director of the Memorial Complex, PhD in History Rakhshanda Bayramova welcomed the University staff, gave information about the policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide carried out by the Bolshevik-Dashnak units in Guba Uyezd in 1918, an accidental discovery of the mass grave during the expansion of the Guba Stadium in April 2007, construction of the Complex, directions of its activity. Rakhshanda Bayramova noted that more than 16,000 people were killed in the Guba uyezd alone during the March events. The violence committed in the city of Guba and the villages of Guba uyezd is reflected in the collection of documents in 3 volumes consisting of 451 sheets according to the investigation materials of the Extraordinary Investigation Commission. 

Then, Head of the Department of Political and Social Sciences of Azerbaijan University, PhD in Political Sciences Elvin Talyshinsky made a speech on “Legal-political view of genocide”. The Head of the Department noted that the people of Azerbaijan, who were subjected to the policy of merciless genocide by Armenian gangs in different periods of history, always tried to live in peace with neighboring nations. Not only in 1918 but also in 1905-1907, as well as in subsequent years, in the Soviet period, in the 80s-90s of the last century, Armenian nationalists committed genocide and deportation of Azerbaijanis, accompanied by violations of the rights of Azerbaijanis, their inhuman treatment, actions degrading human dignity. 

Further, there were reports of Deputy Director of Memorial Complex of Genocide in Guba Mehriban Aliyeva on “The role of EIC documents in the activities of the Memorial Complex of Genocide in Guba”, specialist of the Complex, PhD in History, assoc. prof. Subhan Talybly on “Genocide in Javad uyezd in 1918”, Lecturer of the Department of Political and Social Sciences of Azerbaijan University, PhD in History, assoc. prof. Rasul Mehdikhanov on “Historical realities of Guba genocide”,  the lecturers of the Department, PhD in History Sabina Mammadli on “The causes and terrible consequences of the Genocide of 1918”, Doctor of Philosophy in History Abbas Gurbanov on “Events of the March 31 Genocide (example of Baku)”, the history lecturer of Guba branch of ASPU, PhD in History, graduate of Azerbaijan University Tahmina Aliyeva on “The impact of the Armenian genocide against the Azerbaijani people on the unity and security of the Caucasus”. Employees of the Complex Ulker Zeynalova's reports on “Nakhchivan genocide in 1918” and Sariya Abidova's reports on “Armenian atrocities in Baku uyezd” were also heard at the seminar.

The reports and speeches provided information about mass killings, atrocities and crimes committed by Armenian-Bolshevik armed groups against local civilians in Baku City and different regions of Baku Governorate, as well as in Goychay, Shamakhi, Guba, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Hajigabul, Salyan, Zangezur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan, Iravan and other areas, also the resistance of the local people was broken in various aspects, and the work done by the Extraordinary Investigation Commission established for the investigation of these crimes during the period of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, materials and documents collected by it. It was brought to attention that the investigation of the events of March 1918 and the delivery of the truth to the world began with the Decree “On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis” signed by national leader Heydar Aliyev on March 26, 1998, which is of great historical importance. Following this decree, which gives a legal and political assessment to the actions of Armenian nationalists, purposeful work is carried out to convey the truth about the genocide to international organizations and the world community, and since then, March 31 has been marked as the “Day of the genocide of Azerbaijanis”. It was emphasized that the Azerbaijani army defeated Armenian fascism on the battlefield, but the struggle still continues on such fronts as information and diplomacy. The Memorial Complex of Genocide located in Guba city plays a major role in conveying the truths of Azerbaijan to the world. 

At the end of the event, students were presented with books and booklets containing the facts of genocide. 

It should be noted that the visit and scientific seminar were jointly organized by Azerbaijan University and the Memorial Complex of Genocide. Along with academic staff of the Department of Political and Social Sciences, the 4th year students studying History, Museum-archive work and preservation of monuments, Philosophy of the Faculty of Humanities also participated in the visit and scientific seminar. 

Public Relations Department