The city of Shusha was declared the "cultural capital of the Turkic world" for 2023 at the meeting of the TURKSOY Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture held in Bursa (Turkiye) last March. The solemn ceremony was held in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the measures to declare the city of Shusha as the "Cultural capital of the Turkic world". The official event was attended by Mr. Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY, Mrs. Farah Aliyeva, Head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Adil Karimli, Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Science and Education, Ms. Ganira Pashayeva, Chairman of the Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis, member of TURKSOY. Heads of delegations of countries, including the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Uzbekistan Mr. Ozodbek Nazarbekov, as well as Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Mr. Kubanichbek Omuraliyev, President of the International Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation Mrs. Gunay Efendiyeva, other officials and cultural figures from the Turkic states also joined the opening ceremony.

On July 8, a photo exhibition was opened in the Bolnisi region of Georgia with the support of the "Caucasus" Law and Integration Center to celebrate selection of Shusha as the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" for 2023. The exhibition was held within the framework of the international photography project "Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, in photos" launched by the Public Union "Support to Children and Adolescents" with the support of the Youth Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The similar exhibition was also launched in the Marneuli region. The second exhibition was organised with the support of "Azerbaijan House" in Marneuli and the organisation of Integration Center of Georgian Azerbaijanis.

On July 14-15, our cultural capital Shusha yet again hosted the next Vagif Poetry Days. This year's poetry festival is of special importance as Shusha is also announced the "cultural capital of the Turkic world". The Poetry Days attracted many writers and poets from fraternal countries. The poetry festival, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, started on July 13 in the poet's hometown - Yukhari Salahli village of Gazakh district. The event activities on the first day started with the formal opening speeches, followed by the overview of this traditional festival and culminated with a concert program. On July 14, the participants of the Vagif Poetry Days visited historical and religious cites in Shusha, as well as Shusha branch of the National Carpet Museum. The event participants visited the exhibition "Mir Mohsen Nawab Karabakh: encyclopaedic scholar of the 19th century" in the madrasa building on the territory of Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque. On the same day, the Vagif Poetry Days were formally opened in front of the museum-mausoleum complex of Molla Panah Vagif in Shusha. The opening ceremony brought together Mrs. Farah Aliyeva, Head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs...

The city of Shusha, founded by Panahali Khan in 1752, was one of the important centers of the historical, cultural, social and political life of Azerbaijan. Shusha, which was the capital of the Karabakh Khanate and the main defense fortress for many years, was also a favourable city for country's cultural life. The city of Shusha, built in the style of eastern architecture, consists of 17 quarters, where each had own mosque, bath and spring. Different craftsmanship and art masterpieces represent the main spirit of Shusha people. Videos about the history and revival of our cultural center freed from occupation were shared during the event. Then Shusha, the Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan, was declared the "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" for 2023.

On December 8-9, Shusha Days were held in Bursa on the initiative and organization of the International Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation, with the support of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality. Bursa hosted number of events as a part of handing over the title of the "Cultural capital of the Turkic world" to Shusha in 2022. The head of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mr. Alinur Aktaş, the president of the International Turkish Culture and Heritage Foundation Mrs. Gunay Efendiyeva, the general secretary of TURKSOY Mr. Sultan Rayev, the general secretary of the Organization of Turkic States Mr. Kubanichbek Omuraliyev, the governor of Bursa Mr. Yakup Janbolat and the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Shusha district Mr. Aydin Karimov attended the event. The official closing ceremony of TURKSOY's "Bursa-2022 - the cultural capital of the Turkic world" was held on December 9. At the ceremony, the symbol of the "Cultural Capital" was presented by the head of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Mr. Alinur Aktaş, to the special representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Shusha district, Mr. Aydin Karimov. Secretary General of TURKSOY Sultan Mr. Rayev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States Mr. Kubanichbek Omuraliyev, Governor of Bursa Mr. Yakub Canbolat, Chairman...

On May 9, the next "Kharibulbul" International Music Festival started in Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture. The city of Shusha is also hosting the next "Kharibulbul" festival as the "cultural capital of the Turkish world". The "Cultural Capital of the Turkic World" project of the International Organization of Turkish Culture - TURKSOY has been launched since 2012. Shusha was honoured with this mission last December after Bursa, Turkey. The three-day (May 9-11) "Kharibulbul" International Music Festival hosts famous musicians and performers from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan (including this country's Karagalpak Autonomous Republic), Hungary, as well as from Gagauz Yeri autonomous region of Moldova, Altai, Khakassia of the Russian Federation, Sakha (Yakutia), Tatarstan, Republic of Tuva, and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. On May 12, the official opening of "Shusha - the cultural capital of the Turkic world - 2023" events took place. On the first day of the "Kharibulbul" International Music Festival, in the morning, there was a presentation of handicrafts and national cuisine of the participating countries. The presentation, which was attended by state officials, well-known cultural, artistic and scientific figures, made a good impression on everyone. Then, in the courtyard of Khan's daughter...

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited Shusha on May 8. The head of state and the first lady visited road construction on the 66-81 km of the Ahmedbeyli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway, which is one of the road infrastructure projects for the socio-economic development of the regions and villages liberated from occupation and the projects in the entire Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with the participants of the VIII Global Baku Forum, who visited Shusha on November 7. Congratulating President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the Victory Day, the guests praised the speed and scale of restoration works. Visitors have reiterated the importance of determined and competent leadership and courageous position of the President of Azerbaijan in attaining so many remarkable achievements, and expressed admiration on the level of progress within a very short time. President Aliyev pointed that it took Azerbaijan less than a year to put down social and infrastructural facilities in the liberated territories, as well as in Shusha. The head of our state stated that the main goal is to create high living conditions for former internally displaced persons in the liberated areas. The President of Azerbaijan drew attention to the fact that the restoration and reconstruction works also include historical and religious monuments.

President Ilham Aliyev visited the construction site of the secondary school No. 1 in Shusha city. The head of our state was briefed on the completed works . According to the briefing, all necessary conditions are in place to provide for education in the three-story building of Shusha city secondary school No. 1, which can host 960 students. The school has 40 classrooms for 24 students each, 2 physics, 2 chemistry, 2 biology, 2 technology, 2 computer science rooms, 1 STEM center, library and reading room, basic military training, art and music rooms, medicine room, examination room. The building also hosts a canteen, sports hall and working rooms for administrative staff. The construction of a football field, a transformer, a boiler room, a water pool and other necessary auxiliary buildings has been completed on the one-hectare land plot allocated for the school.

President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and family members participated in the opening of the plaques at the intersection of Heydar Aliyev and 8 November Streets in Shusha. On May 10, signs were unveiled at the intersection of Heydar Aliyev and 8 November streets in Shusha. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and family members joined the opening of the intersection. The head of our state and the first lady were informed about the follow-up works to be done on these streets. It was reported that the length of Heydar Aliyev Street is 1751 meters, and the width varies between 10-14 meters depending on the road bed. 8 November street is 2912 meters long and 10 meters wide. These streets will also be reconstructed at a modern level with due infrastructure in place.