The Guba Genocide Complex has been built in memory of tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis, whose lives have been taken in 1918 by the Bolshevik-Armenian armed groups. In the history of Azerbaijan, the 1918 massacre is considered one of the most tragic genocides of the 20th century, with over a thousand villages set on fire and destroyed.
Between March and April 1918, the town of Guba and 167 of the surrounding villages were ravaged mercilessly and thousands of innocent Muslim and Jewish civilians were killed based on ethnic and religion affiliations.
The mass burial was discovered in 2007, during some construction work in the town of Guba. The Memorial Complex, inaugurated by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Alyev in 2013, consists of three sections: the main hall that houses a black stone in the middle and two structures resembling sharp - end knives, exposing the stabbing pain endured at the time. The Complex provokes thought and reflection around the atrocities of 1918, while commemorating the fallen in a peaceful and glorified way.
The hall’s exit is also accomplished by photos reflecting the liberation of Baku by the Caucasian Islamic Army in 1918.
Next day, the participants took a road trip to Khinalyg, which is the oldest village in Azerbaijan.
At 2350m above the sea level, Khinalyg village has developed it's own culture and traditions, as well as its own language. The Khinalyg language is unique and interestingly does not belong to any known language family.
