Shusha, Azerbaijan

Shusha (Azeri: Şuşa (Armenian: Շոլշի; translit. Shushi) is a town in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

Shusha was the second largest town in Nagorno-Karabakh, predominatly populated by Azeris. Situated 1400-1800 m above the sea level on picturesque Karabakh mountains rigde, Shusha was a popular mountainous-climatic recreation resort during Soviet Union.

According to the last population census in 1989, the town of Shusha had a population of 17,000 and the Shusha district had a population of 23,000. 91.7% of population of Shusha district and 98% of the town of Shusha were Azerbaijani. The population of the town had become more and more heavily ethnic Azeri through force of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic.

Shusha was founded in 1750-1752 by Panah khan Javanshir, the founder of the Karabakh khanate (1747-1822) as its capital. Initially the town was named after its founder Panahabad (town of Panah). Later Ibrahim Khalil khan, son of Panah khan renamed the town Shusha, supposedly after the name of the nearest village of Shushukent. The town was also largely known by the name "Qala" (castle in Azeri).

Considered to be a historical capital of the Karabakh region, Shusha was one of the cultural centers of Azerbaijan. It was home to many Azeri intellectuals, poets, writers and especially, musicians. In 1977 it was declared reservation of Azerbaijan architecture and history.

With the start of the Armenian-Azeri conflict in 1988 Shusha became the most important Azeri stronghold in Karabakh. In May 8, 1992 the town was captured by Armenian forces and Azeri population fled. Today a large part of the town remains in ruins.