On 17 May, as part of his state visit to Azerbaijan, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko together with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited the country’s territories, being rebuilt after the conflict.
In the morning, Aleksandr Lukashenko flew to Fuzuli. He was met by Ilham Aliyev at the airport. The President of Azerbaijan briefed his Belarusian counterpart on the works carried out to restore and develop these territories and build new infrastructure facilities. Aleksandr Lukashenko got familiar with the new airport, and the heads of state accompanied by an impressive motorcade headed for the city.
Aleksandr Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev toured the city, saw destroyed facilities and prospective areas for development. The Presidents traveled along the route in one car, with the Azerbaijani leader behind the wheel.
Aleksandr Lukashenko got familiar with the expositions depicting the pace of the reconstruction of the destroyed sites. After that, the two leaders headed for Shusha.
The heads of state visited the residential area of the city, examined housing conditions, memorial sites and museum and exhibition exposition on Heydar Aliyev’s activity. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Ilham Aliyev also inspected tractor equipment presented to the city by the President of Belarus.
“Use them. If you like them, we will add more,” the Belarusian head of state said.
There are many reminders of the city’s tragic past: some houses are unrestorable. Memorial sites and temples have been destroyed.
“Telling ruins,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “Restorable buildings must be fixed.”
In the city, the Presidents met the famous Soviet and Azerbaijani singer, and now the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia Polad Bülbüloğlu, which came as a big surprise for Aleksandr Lukashenko.
“Polad, is this you? You are here, not Moscow?” the President said.
“This is a surprise for you!” Ilham Aliyev said.
“A gorgeous place. This is why you still sing. Air here is amazing! I recently watched a TV show starring you!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said in admiration.
Shusha has restored the house of Polad Bulbul oglu’s father, Soviet and Azerbaijani opera singer, founder of the national musical theater Murtuz Mashadi Rza oglu Mammadov, nicknamed Bulbul (“nightingale” in Azerbaijani).
Now it houses a museum dedicated to the famous performer. Nearby there is the bust of Bulbul. It was erected back in the Soviet years. Later on it was gunned down and dismantled. Until 2021, the bust was kept in the courtyard of the Azerbaijan Museum of Art, and then it was returned to Shusha.
“Those who shoot at icons and monuments are barbarians,” the Belarusian leader said.