The liberation of Shushi: Operation "Wedding in the Mountains"   carried out 34 years ago 

ArmInfo. Exactly 34 years ago today, on May 8, 1992, the Armenian side successfully carried out operation "Wedding in the Mountains" to liberate the city of Shushi.

The liberation of Shushi marked a turning point in the Artsakh War.  Despite being superior in both numbers and weaponry, the enemy lost  its primary military stronghold—the vantage point from which the  capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Stepanakert, and its  surrounding villages were shelled. Today, however, the Armenian  authorities are attempting to consign this decisive victory to  oblivion, along with the Artsakh movement, which entered a  qualitatively new phase following Shushi's liberation.

The military operations to liberate Shushi were carried out from four  directions under the command of Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan. Regarded as a  nearly flawless military operation in terms of both planning and  execution, the offensive lasted 26 hours. By May 9, Shushi was  liberated.  In the battles to liberate Shushi, the Armenian army lost  57 men killed, while the Azerbaijanis lost 250-300 men killed and  600-700 wounded. Another 13 were captured.

The liberation of Shushi neutralized all enemy firing positions and  military bases surrounding Stepanakert and the adjacent regions. The  opposing forces suffered significant losses in both personnel and  equipment.  This victory was followed by the military operation to  open the Lachin Corridor, which broke the blockade of the NKR. This  "Road of Life" reunited two parts of a nation that had been  artificially separated and linked the NKR with the Republic of  Armenia. The success at Shushi definitively solidified the belief  that victory could be achieved through one's own means and strength.   Recognizing its historical significance, the NKR National Assembly  established the "For the Liberation of Shushi" medal in 1994. May 9  was officially declared Shushi Liberation and Victory Day in both the  NKR and the Republic of Armenia.

 Shushi was surrendered to Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020, following  the signing of a trilateral statement by Armenian Prime Minister  Nikol Pashinyan to cease hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict  zone.