Azadliq Square |
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| Type | Square |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Mayoralty of Baku |
| Country | Azerbaijan |
| Region | Baku |
Azadliq Square (Azerbaijani: Azadlıq meydanı; Russian: Площадь Свободы), in Baku is the biggest city-centre square in Azerbaijan. It lies next to Baku Boulevard.
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The square, then named after Vladimir Lenin, was laid in 1960–70s, after construction of the Government House of Baku was finished in 1952 and monument to Lenin was erected in front of it in 1955.[1] Along with the square, Baku authorities constructed several buildings including "Azerbaijan" and "Absheron" hotels encircling the square. The Lenin monument sculpted by D.M. Garyaghdi was demounted in early 1990s after the beginning of Azerbaijani independence movement and Black January tragedy.[2] The square was then also renamed in 1991 to Azadliq Square (Freedom Square) after collapse of Soviet Union.[3] In 2006, the government sponsored project oversaw renovation works at the Government House and its vicinity including Azadliq Square. Works lasted until 2010.[4]
The square was a place of protests of thousands of Azerbaijani citizens against unjust policies of communist regime and demonstrations against violence against Azerbaijanis in Karabakh since 1988. The events later lead to proclamation of National Revival Day of 17 November 1989. Following the Black January massacre of civilians in Baku on 20 January 1990, Azadliq Square became the gathering and mourning place for approximately 2 million people who gathered to take the fallen heroes to burial site in Martyrs' Lane in upper Baku.