Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 November / Trend Ne / Azerbaijan marks National Revival Day on 17 November.
On the first days of 1988 Armenia started its evident attack against Azerbaijan. Basing on the indifferent attitude of Moscow and particularly of Mikhael Gorbachov's, the head of the USSR, Armenians started planned mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from their native lands in Armenia under the directions of Armenian government. Above 200,000 Azerbaijanis were deported from their homes, killed and burned by the Armenians. Gorbachov and those surrounding him showed no reaction to the Armenian vandalism. At early February 1988 Armenians carried out revolts in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and even raise a question to join those lands to Armenia.
People of Azerbaijan expressed its protest to the government. Slogans, portraits and flags carried by the Azerbaijani citizens proved their belief to Moscow and local authorities at that time.
But getting no serious answer from Moscow and the then government, people from every corner of the republic moved to Baku and gathered in Azadlig square (named 'Lenin Square' at that time), they held meetings and evidently express their protest.
On 17 November 1988 the society of Azerbaijan began rallies at Azadlig square to protest the anti-Azerbaijan policy of the Soviet state. People formed movement for freedom. However, the Soviet army brutally disrupted the demonstrations at the beginning of December.
The abovementioned events are evaluated as the national movement in Azerbaijan and considered to be important facts in achievement of independence.
November 17 is celebrated as the Day of National Revival since 1992.