Renaissance Square, Stepanakert

Renaissance Square, commonly known as Veratsnound or Revival Square or Victory Square was the main square in the city of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. It was developed in 1994 following the Battle of Shusha 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, 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:

The square commonly hosted political and social rallies, weapons exhibitions, New Year's Eve events and processions. During the Shushi Liberation Day celebrations, a military parade of the former Defence Army took place. 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.

Azerbaijani control

Stepanakert came under the control of Azerbaijan on 29 September 2023, after the Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh on 19–20 September 2023, which led to the dissolution of the de facto Republic of Artsakh. A Victory Day parade took place on the square in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev on 8 November 2023. In early March 2024, Azerbaijani authorities demolished the National Assembly of Artsakh building and the Artsakh Freedom Fighters Union building.