Stepanakert and Shushi: May 9 in Pictures

Shushi was liberated 24 years ago on May 9th. The success of the Wedding in the Mountains operation was a turning point in the conflict and helped Armenia maintain control over Nagorno Karabakh. May 9 also coincides with the commemoration of the capitulation of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union at the end of Second World War, which is to date celebrated in post Soviet Republics. 

This year's celebration of the victory, the first after the once frozen conflict brought new casualties and losses, was also in remembrance of the  soldiers who fell this April. The official ceremony in Nagorno Karabakh started in Stepanakert, at around 10 a.m. with a short concert at the central square.  This was followed by a march from Renaissance Square to the Stepanakert Memorial Complex in memory of the soldiers of world war two and the Karabakh war.

Thousands also placed flowers at the adjacent cemetery where heroes of the Karabakh war are put to rest.

The official May 9th ceremony then moved to Shushi and was concluded with a liturgy at the Ghazanchetsots cathedral.