The Turkish Martyrdom Monument was inaugurated in Azerbaijani city of Ganja in memory of the martyrs of the Caucasian Islamic Army under the command of Nuri Pasha during the Ottoman period. Turkey’s Ambassador to Baku Cahit Bağcı, Ganja Consul General Zeki Öztürk, Ganja Governor Niyazi Bayramov, Baku Embassy Armed Forces Attaché Brigadier General Zekeriya Yalçın, deputies, Azerbaijan-Turkey Businessmen’s Association (ATİB) Head Cemal Yangın, representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations, veterans and many guests attended the opening ceremony of the monument, which was organized by ATİB in the center of Ganja with the contributions of Turkish businessmen.
Speaking at the ceremony, which started with a moment of silence for the martyrs and the singing of the national anthem, Ganja Governor Niyazi Bayramov stated that the Armed Forces Day is celebrated in Azerbaijan. “Today, we are inaugurating the monument built in memory of 13 Turkish soldier martyrs of the Caucasian Islamic Army in Ganja,” Bayramov said. Consul General Öztürk stated that the first soldiers of the Caucasian Islamic Army were martyred in the territory of Ganja. Ambassador Bağcı stated that while the Ottoman Empire was fighting on 7 fronts in 1918, the Azerbaijani lands were occupied by Bolshevik and Armenian gangs, and at that moment Azerbaijan came to its aid.
After the Holy Quran was recited for the martyrs, Ambassador Bağcı, Consul General Öztürk, Valis Bayramov, Baku Embassy Armed Forces Attaché Brigadier General Zekeriya Yalçın and ATİB Head Yangın opened the monument.