“Show me Azerbaijan” was an international project that includes the visit of 12 foreign social media bloggers from 8 countries in North America and Eurasia with more than 10 million total followers on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, to the different regions of Azerbaijan. The project was implemented with the support of the Regional Center for Eurasia of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum. Travel bloggers from around the world throughout the week shared their excitement with their followers. The project started on the 103rd Anniversary of the Republic Day in Azerbaijan, on May 28th.
The aim of the project was to inform the international community about the situation in the liberated territories, the grave consequences of the occupation, the massacres, and crimes against humanity committed by Armenia in Azerbaijan, material and historical and cultural heritage, as well as the unique multicultural environment and traditions of Azerbaijan. The statement came from Elmaddin Mehdiyev, Director General of the Eurasian Regional Center (ERC) of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF).
What are the destinations of the project?
Show Me Azerbaijan - 1 (May 28 - June 2, 2021)
Day 1. May 28th
On the 28th of May, the project started in Baku. Foreign bloggers participating in the “Show Me Azerbaijan” project who arrived in Azerbaijan the day before became familiar with Baku, met with world-renowned Reza Photojournalist and visited the Alley of Martyrs.
Day 2. May 29th
Foreign bloggers visiting Azerbaijan as part of the “Show Me Azerbaijan” project paid a visit to the Gobustan National History and Art Museum on May 29th. Then the trip to the regions began. In the frame of the project “Show me Azerbaijan” the international bloggers team visited remnants of a residential area in Ganja, hit by Armenia during the 2nd Karabakh war. This was a critical part of the project, as it exposed Armenia’s atrocities against civilians to the rest of the world.
Day 3. May 30th
The next visit destination of the bloggers was Agdam, the town of Karabakh, from Ganja. Starting with the Juma Mosque, which is on the list of monuments of national importance, the bloggers got acquainted with the monuments, cultural centers, mosques and cemeteries in the region, some of which were destroyed, insulted and some of which were Armenianized. They were informed about war crimes and the destruction of cultural, historical, and religious monuments by Armenia. Fakhraddin Hajibeyli, a resident of the Aghdam region, who took part in the visit, performed our national music on the tar in front of the ruins of the Aghdam Drama Theater, where he used to work.
The international bloggers then visited the Imarat Cemetery in Agdam. Here are the tombs of Panahali khan, the founder of the Karabakh khanate and the rulers of the khanate in different years – Ibrahimkhalil khan and his son Mehdigulu khan, as well as Khurshidbanu Natavan, the daughter of Mehdigulu khan. Other prominent descendants of the Karabakh khans were also buried in this cemetery. However, during the occupation of Aghdam, Panahali khan’s palace and cemetery were subjected to Armenian vandalism. Armenian vandals also destroyed the tomb of Ibrahimkhalil khan, daughter of the last ruler of Karabakh Mehdigulu khan Javanshir, and the tombstone of Khurshidbanu Natavan. Like mosques and cemeteries in the occupied territories, Panahali Khan’s palace was also insulted by Armenians. Cows and pigs were kept in the Khan’s palace, which was used as a stable.
The next and last excursion for the day was to the Khudafarin bridge, which connects the northern and southern banks of the Aras River and is located on the border between Azerbaijan and Iran. The magnificence of this historical masterpiece from the 11th–13th century impressed the team.
Day 4. May 31st
The bloggers visited Fuzuli city and Gargabazar village of the region where they got acquainted with the historical caravanserai and religious places of the 17th century, which were destroyed and insulted during the occupation.
Then the guests left for Gabala and visited the Albanian-Udi Church in the village of Nic.
Day 5. June 1st
Then the team of international bloggers visited Gabala city, Tufandag, and continued to discover the wonderful places of Azerbaijan. During the trip to Gabala international guest bloggers traveled by roadway, tasted delicious meals, and enjoyed beautiful nature. Alongside these activities, they captured beautiful moments. Following the daily visit, the bloggers also visited Ivanovka, the village of Ismayilli, which is called little Russia and famous for houses in old classic style standard wooden structures decorated with frames and carved ornaments. Then they visited Lahij in Ismayilli, a notable place in Azerbaijan, with its authentic handicrafts traditions, particularly related to copper. In November 2015, the Lahij copper craft was nominated to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
Day 6. June 2nd
On June 2nd, a large part of the day was dedicated to the trip to Shamakhi. The team of international bloggers visited Juma mosque, Shamakhi Astrophysics Observatory. They were impressed by the magnificent design and rich cultural heritage of this architectural monument. They also visited the Alpaca farm in Shamaxi. They had a fun time with Alpacas and took wonderful pictures, videos with them. At the end of the day, the guests returned to Baku.
On June 3rd, foreign guests after a week of the trip left the country with great impressions. Even after the guests’ visit to Azerbaijan, they continued to share text and visual content about their impressions for several weeks.
Show Me Azerbaijan - 2 (November 22-26, 2022)
Day 1. November 22nd
On the 22nd of November, the project started. Foreign bloggers participating in the “Show Me Azerbaijan” project who arrived in Azerbaijan the day before became familiar with the Old Baku city. They were received by Read Gasimov, chief of staff of “Icherisheher” State Historical-Architectural Reserve Administration and were informed about the historical importance of this place. The guests got acquainted with Icherisheher Reserve and got information about historical monuments.
As part of the program, the international bloggers met with representatives of institutions in Azerbaijan. Nuray Ahmadova, the representative of the Azerbaijan Tourism Agency, gave information about the tourism potential and routes of Azerbaijan, nature and recreation places, rules for visiting the country from abroad, as well as the international project “Traditional food” (Slow food) in which Azerbaijan is currently participating.
Next, international bloggers met with Chairman of the Executive Board of Karabakh Revival Fund Rahman Hajiyev. In his speech, Mr. Hajiyev presented the concept of urbicide, which means urban destruction, the monuments that were destroyed before and after the occupation in Shusha, Fuzuli, Agdam. He also talked about the work done in the direction of the restoration of historical monuments (the statue of Uzeyir Hajibeyov, the carpet museum, Shahbulag castle), the creation of smart parks, and the restoration of rivers.
Day 2. November 23rd
On November 23rd, Araz Imanov, the senior advisor to the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh Economic Region, welcomed the bloggers in the city of Fuzuli. A. Imanov informed the guests about the causes and the place of the beginning of the 44 days Patriotic war, devastations, conducted by Armenian occupiers in Fuzuli and other districts of Karabakh, the mined areas, as well as the work to be done in connection with the restoration of the city and surrounding villages. The bloggers witnessed the facts of devastation in the city, also visited the Victory Monument and the ruins of the Fuzuli central mosque. They were informed that during the Armenian occupation, mosques not just in Fuzuli, but also in other parts of Karabakh were destroyed, and some of them had been used to house animals.
Day 3. November 24th
The primary objective of the project (Show Me Azerbaijan – Shusha International Bloggers Camp) is to familiarize foreign bloggers with the destroyed, vandalized cultural monuments, former villages, and the natural beauty, historical sites, and cultural landmarks of Karabakh, particularly Shusha. The Shusha City State Reserve Department’s chief specialist Ismayil Ismayilov welcomed the visitors and gave them information on the city’s historical and cultural sites as well as the heroism of the Azerbaijani soldiers, who liberated the city from the Armenian occupation. The bloggers also visited the city’s vandalized (shot by rifles) monuments, the mansion of Khurshidbanu Natavan, the castle of Shusha, the mausoleum of Vagif, the mansions of the nobles, as well as the Jidir Plain.
On their YouTube channels, foreign bloggers shared a number of videos showing their impressions of Shusha.
The master class training of renowned American blogger Douglas Barnard was held as the second component of the program during the visit to Shusha. He discussed the importance of blogging in today’s world and the knowledge he has learned over the years. He presented the “Show Me Azerbaijan” project, the role it plays in conveying the truths of Azerbaijan and Karabakh to the international community, and the recent rise in interest in the project. Aydan Baghirli, a representative of ICYF-ERC, gave a presentation to bloggers about the organization she works for. The bloggers were informed about the international initiatives carried out since ICYF-ERC’s founding, particularly, the efforts made to promote Muslim youth solidarity. The bloggers expressed their appreciation for the ICYF-ERC’s work and promised to share the Center’s activities with their fellow citizens once they returned home.
Day 4. November 25th
On November 25, 2022, bloggers from more than 10 countries, within the framework of the project, “Show Me Azerbaijan” project, visited Shaki city where they got acquainted with such sights as the Palace of Shaki Khans, Karvansaray, with ancient streets and mosques in the region.
The well-known American blogger Douglas Barnard filmed video clips in front of the Imam Ali mosque in Shaki and compared this place with the city of Najaf. All bloggers expressed their admiration for the beauty and antiquity, as well as the rich cuisine of the city of Sheki.
Then the guests left for Gabala and visited the Albanian-Udi Church in the village of Nic.
Day 5. November 26th
During the last day of the “Show Me Azerbaijan” project, international bloggers visited Ismayilli and Shamakhi regions of Azerbaijan. They visited the Lahij village, inhabited by ethnic Tats, and noted that in Azerbaijan, special importance is attached to the values of multiculturalism, the peaceful cohabitation of peoples speaking different languages, both on the official governmental and societal levels.
The bloggers also visited the workshop in Basqal, where the Azerbaijani national women’s headdress, kelaghayi, is woven. Later, bloggers paid a visit to the Ismayilli region. Sayf Aldeen from Iraq shared his impressions of Lahij in his profile as follows: “It is very beautiful here, people are so kind and generous”. A blogger from Finland Camilla Milja, and Joao Leitao from Portugal in their profiles noted the antiquity and beauty of the nature of Lahij, where they expressed their admiration for the Zarnava Hanging Bridge.
During a trip to Shamakhi, Muslim bloggers prayed at the Juma Mosque, their attention was drawn to a joint prayer, where Shiites and Sunnis took part together.