View source for Renaissance Square, Stepanakert

{{Short description|Square in Stepanakert, Karabakh, Azerbaijan}}
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox street
|alternate_name=Veratsnound
|name=Renaissance Square
|native_name={{native name|hy|Վերածննդի հրապարակ}}
|image=File:NKR Parliament, Stepanakert.jpg
|image_map=
|caption=National Assembly
|former_names=Lenin Square<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wikimapia.org/9256854/Renaissance-Square|title=The Soviet-era name of the square was Lenin's Square (named after communist idol - Vladimir Lenin, Russian communist revolutionary, politician and political theorist)|access-date=2017-01-24}}</ref>
|known_for=The central square of [[Stepanakert]]
|type=Square
|location= {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|area=
|designer=
|metro=
|completion_date={{Start date and age|df=yes|1994}}
|construction_start_date=
|maint=City of [[Stepanakert]] (Khankendi)
|coordinates={{coord|39|49|3|N|46|45|3|E|type:landmark_region:AZ}}
}}
'''Renaissance Square''' ({{Langx|hy|Վերածննդի հրապարակ}}), known commonly as '''Veratsnound''' or '''Revival Square'''<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Upx-DwAAQBAJ&q=Renaissance+Square%2C+Stepanakert&pg=PA384 |title = Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh|isbn = 9781784770792|last1 = Holding|first1 = Deirdre|last2 = Allen|first2 = Tom|date = 2018-12-12| publisher=Bradt Travel Guides }}</ref> or '''Victory Square'''<ref>https://azertag.az/en/xeber/central_square_of_khankendi_named_victory_square-2952497</ref> ({{Langx |az| Zəfər meydanı}}) was the main square in the city of [[Khankendi|Stepanakert (Khankendi)]], in [[Karabakh Economic Region|Karabakh]], [[Azerbaijan]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://wikimapia.org/9256854/Renaissance-Square|title=The main square of Stepanakert}}</ref> It was developed in 1994 following the [[Battle of Shusha (1992)|Battle of Shusha]] and the securing of the area by the [[Artsakh Defense Army]].
== History ==
=== Soviet era ===
The Presidential Palace, which was the former residence of the [[President of Artsakh]],<ref>https://artsakhlib.am/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Stepanakert.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiN0dnbycPyAhWvSTABHUeRAIY4ChAWegQIAhAB&usg=AOvVaw1E0myy3ydQmlmZYiF2x9mg {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> is the main building in the square. It is the former building of the [[Nagorno-Karabakh Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan]], having been built in the 1960s.
=== Artsakh era ===
The following landmarks and buildings were located on the square when the city was under Armenian control:<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IuVjDwAAQBAJ&q=Renaissance+Square%2C+Stepanakert&pg=PA75 | title=Among Armenians| isbn=9780244043810| last1=Pointon| first1=Matthew| date=31 October 2017| publisher=Lulu.com}}</ref>
* [[Presidential Palace, Stepanakert|Presidential Palace]]
* [[Artsakh Freedom Fighters Union]] Building
* [[National Assembly (Artsakh)|National Assembly of Artsakh]] Building<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://azerbaijan24.com/about/azerbaijan_cities/nagorno_karabakh/xankendi/|title = Xankendi (Stepanakert)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gbz-AwAAQBAJ&q=Veratsnound&pg=PA334 |title = Armenia: With Nagorno Karabagh|isbn = 9781841625553|last1 = Holding|first1 = Deirdre|date = September 2014| publisher=Bradt Travel Guides }}</ref>
* Embassy of Armenia
* Palace of Youth
* Hotel ''Armenia''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://armeniahotel.am/|title=About Hotel|website=Armenia Hotel|access-date=2019-06-04}}</ref>
The square commonly hosted political and social rallies,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://anca.org/thousands-gather-in-stepanakert-to-mark-30th-anniversary-of-artsakh-movement/|title = Thousands Gather in Stepanakert to Mark 30th Anniversary of Artsakh Movement|date = 14 February 2018}}</ref> weapons exhibitions,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2017/05/09/Weapons-exhibition-held-in-the-Renaissance-Square-of-Stepanakert/1774152|title = Weapons' exhibition held in the Renaissance Square of Stepanakert}}</ref> [[New Year's Eve]] events<ref>https://www.aravot-en.am/2017/12/15/204817/</ref> and processions. During the [[Shushi Liberation Day]] celebrations, a [[military parade]] of the former [[Artsakh Defence Army|Defence Army]] took place.<ref>{{Cite web|last=LLC|first=Academy Of Development|title=Պաշտպանության բանակի զորահանդեսները {{!}} ԼՂՀ պաշտպանության նախարարության պաշտոնական կայք|url=https://nkrmil.am/history-of-defence-army/view/38|access-date=2020-12-05|website=nkrmil.am|language=hy}}</ref> During a visit to the capital in August 2019, Armenian Prime Minister [[Nikol Pashinyan]] led a mass rally on the square with chants of  "Unification", which was originally chanted during the [[Karabakh movement]] in the late 80s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=44226&lang=3&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=8077968a577ffe1d508f223a646f2ec9c5b0283e-1607195087-0-AfpEhXUum_7KiMIJPkiPOWN-cAs7pL1Y2jp59YXhW91kexIVmxTc_tQM7ooDe7yeC0uB2Bw2I2HqPn0W1vJFG782_-UVeeKSWYowrLKl6y0p59Fg9wvoSqYg6QHNmiuTOurJTeHbYF-dEszzxx_yqktVSSGePu0AbW4AOfpMc91-EkhRSFdPcFYhSad5gnxsBeDo1uNf2SPv5nii4H3a1nNhaM68acv5swWbiy5Q8N3xy5GcGzf8YHAqahtIEVttuFNMK3h7_UEO1iblRrjtSHiR4GMgKojDzvnvGXogFr7t14Z23JLbcJzJcPeBi9hxIuFluyA-pwWNo_g0GXPBBJp-pX2VQyrMjTrmo8K3l_HjB9mIatjMbG5GFWfrZdxGu2D6-3-hFOSnzYY_ISWZkwA | title=Arminfo: Pashinyan began his speech on Renaissance Square in Stepanakert with the chant of the famous conscription - Unification }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.primeminister.am/en/statements-and-messages/item/2019/08/05/Nikol-Pashinyan-speech/|title = Remarks delivered by PM Nikol Pashinyan at Renaissance Square rally in Stepanakert}}</ref>
=== In Azerbaijani Karabakh ===
[[File:Military parade dedicated to 3rd anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War was held in city of Khankendi 23.jpg|thumb|[[Azerbaijani Commando Brigades|Azerbaijani Commandos]] marching past President [[Ilham Aliyev]] during a [[Victory Day (Azerbaijan)|Victory Day]] parade on 8 November 2023.]]
Stepanakert came under the control of Azerbaijan on 29 September 2023, after the [[2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh|Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh]] on 19–20 September 2023, which led to the dissolution of the de facto [[Nagorno-Karabakh Republic]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3804718.html |title=So-called "police" of separatists, abandons weapons in Khankendi, leaves Karabakh |publisher=[[Trend News Agency]] |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930011012/https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3804718.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businesslend.com/news/presidential-representative-in-karabakh-shares-image-from-azerbaijans-khankendi/ |title=Presidential consultant in Karabakh shares picture from Azerbaijan's Khankendi |website=Businesselend.com |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930010259/https://www.businesslend.com/sports/lisandro-martinez-could-be-out-for-two-months-in-latest-man-utd-injury-blow/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.az/news/azerbaijani-police-takes-up-serving-in-khankendi-video |title=Azerbaijani police takes up serving in Khankendi |website=News.az |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930010245/https://news.az/news/azerbaijani-police-takes-up-serving-in-khankendi-video |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-29 |title=Armenians describe journey to safety after fall of their homeland |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/nagorno-karabakh-armenia-azerbaijan-refugees-b2421023.html |access-date=2023-09-30 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930060130/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/nagorno-karabakh-armenia-azerbaijan-refugees-b2421023.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A [[Victory Day (Azerbaijan)|Victory Day]] parade took place on the square in the presence of President [[Ilham Aliyev]] on 8 November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://president.az/en/articles/view/62139|title=Military parade dedicated to 3rd anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War was held in city of Khanкendi|publisher=President.az|date=2023-11-08|access-date=2024-03-05}}</ref> In early March 2024, Azerbaijani authorities demolished the [[National Assembly (Artsakh)|National Assembly of Artsakh]] building and the [[Artsakh Freedom Fighters Union]] building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thearmenianreport.com/post/azerbaijanis-destroy-artsakh-national-assembly-building|title=Azerbaijanis Destroy Artsakh National Assembly Building|publisher=The Armenian Report|date=2024-03-04|access-date=2024-03-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.am/eng/news/810490.html|title=Azerbaijanis destroy Karabakh parliament building|publisher=News.am|date=2024-03-04|access-date=2024-03-05}}</ref>
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:2017-07-26 - Stepanakert (Artsakh) 17.jpg|Presidential Palace
File:2014 Stepanakert, Budynek Związku Bojowników o Wolność Arcachu.jpg|Union of Artsakh Freedom Fighters building.
File:2017-07-26 - Stepanakert (Artsakh) 12.jpg|National Assembly building.
</gallery>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://aviplatform.com/video/paid/media-6258/page-1/renaissance-square-stepanakert-national-assembly-artsakh.html Renaissance Square, Stepanakert, National Assembly] on [https://aviplatform.com Aviplatform.com]
*[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=axY92iLRCYw 360° view of the square]
*[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oSTvppUvBvI A video of the square]
[[Category:Stepanakert]]
[[Category:Squares in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Stepanakert]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in the Republic of Artsakh]]