Azadliq Square, Baku

File:Paradbaku 1430.JPG

The square, formerly named Lenin Square after Vladimir Lenin, was created in the 1960–70s, after construction of the Government House of Baku was finished in 1952. A monument to Lenin was erected in 1955.{{cite web|url=http://azarc.azeriblog.com/2008/05/05/memarliq_ve_inshaatjpg |title=Memarliq-Döqüzinci Bölüm (Architecture-7th chapter) |access-date=August 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011044513/http://azarc.azeriblog.com/2008/05/05/memarliq_ve_inshaatjpg |archive-date=October 11, 2008 }} It was also formerly known as Stalin Square. Along with the square, Baku authorities constructed several buildings including the "Azerbaijan" and "Absheron" hotels encircling the square, which were later demolished and replaced with the Hilton Baku and the JW Marriott Absheron Baku Hotel. The Lenin monument sculpted by D. M. Garyaghdi was removed in the early 1990s.{{cite web

| url=http://bse.sci-lib.com/particle024116.html

| title=Илюстрация "Руднев Л. В., Мунц В. О. Дом правительства (Баку)" в Большой Советской Энциклопедии

| access-date=August 18, 2010

| archive-date=January 26, 2018

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012642/http://bse.sci-lib.com/particle024116.html

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}} The square was renamed Azadliq Square (Freedom Square) in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.[http://www.window2baku.com/Streets.htm Старые наименования улиц и площадей Баку.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208125537/http://www.window2baku.com/Streets.htm |date=2019-12-08 }} {{in lang|ru}} In 2006, a government-sponsored project oversaw renovation works at Government House and its vicinity including Azadliq Square. Works lasted until 2010.

{{cite web

|url=http://www.abc.az/eng/news/45030.html

|title=Reconstruction of Government House in Baku cost $40 million

|access-date=August 18, 2010

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|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706130729/http://www.abc.az/eng/news/45030.html

|archive-date=July 6, 2011

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File:Governement house - panoramio.jpg

• Government House
• Baku Boulevard, across the Neftchiler Avenue
• Baku Maritime passenger terminal
• JW Marriott Absheron Baku Hotel
• Hilton Baku
• Park Bulvar Mall
• Radisson Hotel Baku
• Behind Government House, Baku Shopping Department Store
• The Crescent Hotel

File:2013 Military parade in Baku 04.jpg|A parade on the square in 2013.

File: Gobierno de Azerbaiyán, Baku, Azerbaiyán, 2016-09-26, DD 27.jpg

File:Hökümət evinin inşası.jpg|The construction of Government House in the 1930s.

File:1960 CPA 2417.jpg|The building on a Soviet stamp 40th anniversary of Azerbaijan SSR

File:Azadlıq meydanı - panoramio.jpg

File:Stamps of Azerbaijan, 2012-1038.jpg|Baku Hilton Hotel

File: Sabayil, Baku, Azerbaijan - panoramio (111).jpg|Park Bulvar Mall

File:JW Marriott Absheron.jpg|JW Marriott Absheron

File:Panorama of Baku 2022.jpg|The Crescent Development project

File:Парад на площади им. В.И. Ленина, 1970 г. Полковники Чурилов И.К., Смазилкин ВС., Злодеев И.В.jpg (BVOKU) marching on Lenin Square during a parade in Baku in October 1970.]]

{{See also|Military parades in Azerbaijan}}

During the Cold War, Lenin Square was used as a parade ground for the annual International Workers' Day demonstration on May 1, as well as the Victory Day and October Revolution Day military parades on May 9 and November 7 respectively. Azadliq Square is the main venue for the bi-annual Day of the Armed Forces military parade which takes place on June 26.{{Cite news|url=http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-military/azerbaijan-army-azerbaijani-armed-forces/military-parade-held-in-azerbaijan.html|title=Military parade held in Azerbaijan|last=Holding|first=APA Information Agency, APA|access-date=2017-05-05|language=en|archive-date=2018-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518054354/http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-military/azerbaijan-army-azerbaijani-armed-forces/military-parade-held-in-azerbaijan.html|url-status=live}} In 2018, the square was used as the main venue for the centennial celebrations of the Battle of Baku, which was attended by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/155166/azerbaijan-military-parade-planned-in-baku-september-15|title=Azerbaijan: Military parade planned in Baku September 15|access-date=2018-09-16|archive-date=2018-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916060836/https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/155166/azerbaijan-military-parade-planned-in-baku-september-15|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.azernews.az/nation/137524.html/ |title=100th anniversary of Baku's liberation marked in Azerbaijan |access-date=2018-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915222242/https://www.azernews.az/nation/137524.html |archive-date=2018-09-15 |url-status=dead }} On 10 December 2020, a victory parade took place on Azadliq Square, honouring the Azerbaijani victory during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war,{{Cite web |title=Baku preparing for grandiose Victory Parade – VIDEO |url=https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/baku-preparing-for-grandiose-victory-parade-ndash-video/ |date=3 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 |website=Azerbaycan24 |language=en-AU |archive-date=7 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107173202/https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/baku-preparing-for-grandiose-victory-parade-ndash-video/ |url-status=live }} during which Armenian war trophies and Azerbaijani military vehicles,{{Cite web |first=Alena |last=Makarenko |url=https://360tv.ru/news/mir/pobedy-v-azerbajdzhane/ |title=Эрдоган приедет на парад победы в Баку: мнение политолога date |date=2 December 2020 |access-date=10 December 2020 |work=360 TV |language=ru |archive-date=8 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108235912/https://360tv.ru/news/mir/pobedy-v-azerbajdzhane/ |url-status=live }} were displayed.

Starting on 17 November 1988, large-scale demonstrations began in Baku's Lenin Square to protest against the alleged destruction of a forest near Shusha by Armenians.Stuart J. Kaufman,Modern Hatreds: The Symbolic Politics of Ethnic War p.66. As the demonstrations continued, they became increasingly anti-Armenian, with chants of "death to the Armenians"Mark Malkasian, Gha-ra-bagh!: The Emergence of the National Democratic Movement in Armenia, p170. Wayne State University Press, 1996. and demands that those convicted of the murder of Armenians during the Sumgait pogrom be released. The demonstrations also developed into an anti-central government, anti-Soviet protest. On 23 November, a curfew was imposed in Baku and Soviet troops tried unsuccessfully to disperse the crowds.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} The events later led to the proclamation, in 1992, of National Revival Day of 17 November.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} Following the Black January crackdown by Soviet troops in Baku on 20 January 1990, Azadliq Square became the gathering and mourning place for approximately 2 million people who gathered to take the dead to a burial site in Martyrs' Lane in upper Baku.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

Protests during the 2003 Azerbaijani protests took place on the square.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-12|title=Алиев заявил, что некоторые страны разрабатывали план по его свержению|url=https://ria.ru/20210412/sverzhenie-1727947076.html|access-date=2021-04-17|website=РИА Новости|language=ru|archive-date=2021-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417011403/https://ria.ru/20210412/sverzhenie-1727947076.html|url-status=live}}

In 1989 one of Azerbaijan's greatest vocalists, Yaqub Zourofchi, held a revolutionary concert as Azerbaijan was gaining their independence from USSR.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} The square was used for the Baku City Circuit.{{cite web |script-title=ru:Азад Рагимов рассказал о примерной трассе бакинского этапа Формулы-1 |trans-title=Azad Ragimov told about approximate track of Baku Formula 1 race |url=http://www.azerisport.com/other/20140726125426178.html |website=www.azerisport.com |access-date=25 July 2014 |language=ru |archive-date=29 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729191222/http://www.azerisport.com/other/20140726125426178.html |url-status=live }}

The B6 Metro Station is planned in this area by Baku Metro in the future.

In February 2012, the government of Azerbaijan announced that it is planning to restore the tram line in Baku. A new line had to be laid along the seaside promenade of Baku Boulevard in central Baku as part of the Baku White City development project. Since then, Formula One made Alstom change the plans and the route of this tram line, which is never happened and project was not implemented yet.

• Black January
• Azerbaijani independence movement
• Mayoralty of Baku
• Neftchiler Avenue

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Freedom Square, Baku}}

{{Baku landmarks}}

Category:Squares in Baku

Category:Architecture in Azerbaijan