Military parade dedicated to the fifth anniversary of Victory in Patriotic War

On November 8, a military parade dedicated to the fifth anniversary of Victory in Patriotic War was held at Azadlig Square in Baku. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif attended the event.

The national anthems of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan were performed, and the memory of national leader Heydar Aliyev and the martyrs was honored with a minute of silence.

In his speech, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that national unity, a strong army, and an independent policy were the main pillars of our Victory, as well as noted that the liberation of Shusha changed the course of the war and that Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity through its own strength. The Head of State also highlighted the rapid revival of Karabakh and East Zangezur within the framework of the Great Return program.

President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his remarks, stressed the unshakeable nature of the “one nation, two states” unity and stated that the Victory in Karabakh is a source of pride for the entire Turkic world, as well as he underscored the importance of ensuring lasting peace in the region. Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif described the Karabakh Victory as a triumph of justice and emphasized the significance of Pakistan–Azerbaijan strategic solidarity as well as his country’s support for peace.

After the speeches of the heads of state, the military parade commenced. The parade was commanded by the First Deputy Minister of Defense – Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, holder of the “Victory” and “Karabakh” orders.

Various branches of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, as well as military personnel from Türkiye and Pakistan, marched in front of the tribune. The Navy and the Coast Guard of the State Border Service demonstrated combat readiness elements in the coastal waters of the Caspian Sea. The parade showcased a wide range of military equipment, including T-90S tanks, BTR-82A armored vehicles, various UAVs, and missile systems.

In the skies over the capital, MI-17 combat-transport helicopters carrying the national flags of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan, as well as a portrait of national leader Heydar Aliyev, performed flyovers. The aviation segment continued with demonstration flights by Azerbaijan’s MFI-17 and L-39 training aircrafts, SU-25-Lachin, JF-17, C-27J, and IL-76 military transport and fighter aircrafts, along with a formation of five F-16 multirole fighter jets from the Turkish Air Force. The parade concluded with a spectacular flyover by SU-25 attack aircraft displaying the colors of the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan across the Baku sky.