Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan participated in Azerbaijan’s Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday, held in the city of Lachin, a region symbolically significant following the country's recent military victories in Karabakh.

During his address at the ceremony, President Erdoğan praised Azerbaijan’s enduring spirit of independence, linking its historical roots in 1918 to its modern achievements.

“The republican regime established in Azerbaijan in 1918 became the epitome of liberty and free will,” Erdoğan stated. “Today, the victory of independence in Karabakh renders Azerbaijan much stronger and more prosperous.”

He went on to highlight the symbolic significance of Karabakh's liberation, saying: “The torch of independence lit that day lightens Azerbaijan’s path in a much brighter and stronger manner today. With the liberation of Karabakh, each note that rises on these lands has become the voice of not only victory, but also the revival, so to speak, of a nation.”

The event marked a show of unity between Turkey and Azerbaijan, underscoring Ankara’s continued support for Baku’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Erdoğan’s presence at the celebrations comes amid deepening political, military, and economic ties between the two allied nations. (ILKHA)