Renaissance Square
Veratsnound
National Assembly
Native nameՎերածննդի հրապարակ (Armenian)
Former name(s)Lenin Square[1]
TypeSquare
Maintained byCity of Stepanakert (Khankendi)
Location Azerbaijan
Coordinates39°49′3″N 46°45′3″E / 39.81750°N 46.75083°E / 39.81750; 46.75083
Construction
Completion1994 (1994)
Other
Known forThe central square of Stepanakert

Renaissance Square (Armenian: Վերածննդի հրապարակ), known commonly as Veratsnound or Revival Square[2] is the main square in the city of Stepanakert (Khankendi), in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.[3] It was developed in 1994 following the Battle of Shushi and the securing of the area by the Artsakh Defense Army.

History

Soviet era

The Presidential Palace, which was the former residence of the President of Artsakh,[4] is the main building in the square. It is the former building of the Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, having been built in the 1960s.

Artsakh era

The following landmarks and buildings were located on the square when the city was under Armenian control:[3][5]

The square commonly hosted political and social rallies,[9] weapons exhibitions,[10] New Year's Eve events[11] and processions. During the Shushi Liberation Day celebrations, a military parade of the former Defence Army took place.[12] During a visit to the capital in August 2019, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan led a mass rally on the square with chants of "Unification", which was originally chanted during the Karabakh movement in the late 80s.[13][14]

In Azerbaijani Karabakh

Azerbaijani Commandos marching past President Ilham Aliyev during a victory day parade in 2023.

A Victory Day parade took place on the square in 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "The Soviet-era name of the square was Lenin's Square (named after communist idol - Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist revolutionary, politician and political theorist)". Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  2. ↑ Holding, Deirdre; Allen, Tom (2018-12-12). Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781784770792.
  3. 1 2 "The main square of Stepanakert".
  4. ↑ https://artsakhlib.am/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Stepanakert.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiN0dnbycPyAhWvSTABHUeRAIY4ChAWegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1E0myy3ydQmlmZYiF2x9mg
  5. ↑ Pointon, Matthew (31 October 2017). Among Armenians. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780244043810.
  6. ↑ "Xankendi (Stepanakert)".
  7. ↑ Holding, Deirdre (September 2014). Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781841625553.
  8. ↑ "About Hotel". Armenia Hotel. Retrieved 2019-06-04.
  9. ↑ "Thousands Gather in Stepanakert to Mark 30th Anniversary of Artsakh Movement". 14 February 2018.
  10. ↑ "Weapons' exhibition held in the Renaissance Square of Stepanakert".
  11. ↑ https://www.aravot-en.am/2017/12/15/204817/
  12. ↑ LLC, Academy Of Development. "Պաշտպանության բանակի զորահանդեսները | ԼՂՀ պաշտպանության նախարարության պաշտոնական կայք". nkrmil.am (in Armenian). Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  13. ↑ "Arminfo: Pashinyan began his speech on Renaissance Square in Stepanakert with the chant of the famous conscription - Unification".
  14. ↑ "Remarks delivered by PM Nikol Pashinyan at Renaissance Square rally in Stepanakert".
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