On 17 September 2026, the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan hosted an event dedicated to 20 September – the Day of State Sovereignty – and the third anniversary of the local anti-terror measures conducted on 19–20 September 2023.

The event opened with the performance of the National Anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The programme featured presentations addressing the events of September 2023, which marked an important stage in the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and state sovereignty. The memory of the martyrs was honoured with a minute of silence.

The event began with welcoming remarks by Shafa Movsumov, Head of the Museum’s Patriotic War Collection. The programme continued with addresses by Farhad Jabbarov, Deputy Director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Associate Professor, and Musa Gasimli, Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Professor and Corresponding Member of ANAS. Their presentations focused on the historical significance of the September 2023 events and their place in the contemporary history of Azerbaijani statehood.

Particular attention was given to the contributions of the families of the martyrs. Khayala Gafarova, mother of martyr Savalan Isfandiyar oglu Gafarov, and Mehriban Alibekova, wife of martyr Alibek Mirkarim oglu Alibekov, shared recollections of their loved ones, their service to the Motherland, and the personal memories preserved by their families.

The event also brought together servicemen who had directly participated in the anti-terror measures, including Sergeant Munasib Vurgun oglu Ibrahimov and Senior Warrant Officer Ahmad Mirgasim oglu Ahmadov. Their contributions reflected personal observations and recollections of the events of September 2023.

The participation of representatives of the younger generation also formed an important part of the programme. The audience heard from Muhammad Bakhish, a sixth-grade student at the I. Efendiyev Elite Gymnasium in Baku and a bronze medalist in the SASMO Mathematics Olympiad, and Huseyn Bahmanli, a fifth-grade student at Secondary School No. 214 in Baku. Their participation underscored the importance of preserving historical memory and transmitting knowledge of significant events in the country’s history to younger generations.

The event concluded with an address by Academician Naila Velikhanli, Director of the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of preserving historical memory and of conveying the testimonies of those who directly participated in, and witnessed, these events to future generations, while noting the particular place of 20 September in Azerbaijan’s contemporary history.