Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, evaluating the 5th Anniversary of the Karabakh Victory, emphasized that this historic day is not only a military success but also a “rebirth” for the Azerbaijani people and a concrete epic of Türkiye-Azerbaijan brotherhood written on the field.
Stating that Victory Day holds deep meaning for the Azerbaijani people, Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı said, “The Karabakh Victory is a concrete manifestation of Türkiye-Azerbaijan brotherhood.”
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı stated that for the future of the Turkic world, in addition to military and political successes, scientific, educational, and cultural cooperations must be made permanent, adding, “Üsküdar Üniversitesi reinforces cultural unity with knowledge through its projects in digital transformation, psychology, sociology, and engineering for the youth of the Turkic world.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı from Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Department of Sociology, made evaluations on the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the Karabakh Victory.
The Karabakh Victory, the rebirth of the Azerbaijani people…
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı stated that Victory Day holds a deep meaning for the Azerbaijani people, saying, “Today, we celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Karabakh Victory, won with the blood of thousands of martyrs, the sacrifice of the heroic Azerbaijani soldier, and the resolute leadership of Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. This victory is not merely a military success; it is the reconstruction of the Azerbaijani people’s identity, honor, and historical self-confidence. Karabakh is where the ideal of ‘integration with the land,’ which lies at the deepest core of Azerbaijani national identity, has been revived. In this respect, the reclaiming of Karabakh signifies a ‘rebirth’ in the memory of the Azerbaijani people.”
The victory has become part of the shared memory of the entire Turkic world
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı stated that this year’s celebrations would be a symbol of the strategic friendship between the two countries, saying, “This year, Victory Day will be celebrated with a large military parade in Azerbaijan. This celebration, which will also be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and high-level state officials from Türkiye, will be a symbol of the strategic friendship between the two countries. We see that the victory has become part of the shared memory of the entire Turkic world.”
Victory, a concrete manifestation of Türkiye-Azerbaijan brotherhood
Highlighting the historical importance of Türkiye’s unconditional support to Azerbaijan during the 44-day Patriotic War, Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı said, “The Karabakh Victory is a concrete manifestation of Türkiye-Azerbaijan brotherhood. Türkiye stood by Azerbaijan throughout the war, transforming the understanding of ‘One nation, two states’ from a mere discourse into a reality on the ground. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s resolute political stance, the heartfelt support of the Turkish people, and the courage of the Azerbaijani army combined to write a legendary epic of brotherhood. Today, this solidarity is not only military; it has also transformed into a lasting strategic cooperation in the fields of economy, technology, culture, media, and education.”
Shusha Declaration elevated brotherhood to alliance
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı stated that the Shusha Declaration, signed in 2021, elevated Türkiye-Azerbaijan relations to the level of “alliance,” adding, “The document foresees the establishment of permanent joint mechanisms in fields such as defense, culture, education, youth, and sports. Today, Shusha is not only the heart of Karabakh but has also become the spiritual capital of the Turkic world. The spirit of the Shusha Declaration is also reflected in science, education, and cultural policies through institutions such as the Organization of Turkic States, the Turkic Academy, TURKUNIB, and the Orkhon Exchange Program.”
Qarabağ FK, the on-field symbol of brotherhood
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı stated that Qarabağ FK’s recent successes are also a reflection of Türkiye-Azerbaijan brotherhood in sports, and said the following:
“Qarabağ FK is not just a football team; it is the on-field symbol of the Karabakh spirit, solidarity, and Turkic brotherhood. Its recent successful performance in the European arena represents Azerbaijan’s self-confidence, determination, and fighting spirit. These successes also resonated greatly in Türkiye. Today, Qarabağ FK has a fan base numbering tens of thousands in Türkiye and other Turkic states. Most recently, during the Qarabağ–Chelsea match played in Baku, Turkish sports commentator Ertem Şener co-commentated the match on CBS Sports with an Azerbaijani commentator. This joint broadcast garnered great interest from the Azerbaijani and Turkish public and created a warm atmosphere of solidarity between the two peoples. After the match, Qarabağ’s head coach Gurban Gurbanov, who has an invaluable share in the team’s successes, cut the press conference short and said, ‘Now let’s go support Galatasaray!’ This remark literally rocked social media in Türkiye with comments like ‘This is what brotherhood is!’”
Sports, the most sincere language reinforcing cultural brotherhood
Sociologist Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı reminded that for years, Turkish clubs like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş have been supported by the people in Azerbaijan as if they were their own teams, saying, “The enthusiasm that filled the streets of Baku when the Turkish National Team won is now experienced with the same excitement for Qarabağ FK. This picture shows us that sports is not merely an arena of competition, but the most sincere language that strengthens the emotional ties between peoples and reinforces cultural brotherhood. As Karabakh wins on the field, the Turkic world also wins spiritually together.”
The future of the Turkic world lies in scientific and educational unity
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı stated that for the future of the Turkic world, in addition to military and political successes, scientific, educational, and cultural cooperations must be made permanent, adding, “Establishing lasting collaborations in science and education is the most important step for the future of the Turkic world, as much as military and political successes.
Inter-university exchange programs, joint research centers, and youth projects will make this brotherhood permanent. In this context, Üsküdar Üniversitesi has undertaken an important bridging role with its scientific, cultural, and sociological projects carried out with both Azerbaijan and other countries of the Turkic world. Our university reinforces cultural unity with knowledge through its projects in digital transformation, psychology, sociology, and engineering for the youth of the Turkic world.”
Karabakh is the name of the Turkic world’s common future
Expressing his feelings regarding this meaningful anniversary, Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı concluded his words with the following statements:
“Karabakh is more than a geography; it is a spirit. That spirit is the symbol of honor, unity, and resurrection rising over lands watered with the blood of martyrs. Today, as the call to prayer echoes again in Shusha, flags proudly wave in Baku. The Karabakh Victory is not the name of the past, but the common future of the Turkic world. And we say once again: Karabakh is Azerbaijan — the heart of the Turkic World.”