Town of Shushi (the Republic of Artsakh) is one of important centers of Armenian culture.

In a naturally hardly accessible location in Artsakh province of historical Great Armenia, the town was of a strategic importance since ancient times. Fenced, the town has turned into a stronghold to withstand the attacks of foreign invaders.

The town also played an important role as an educational center. In 18-19 centuries Shushi was famous for its abundant cultural life - literature, music, architecture. There were a number of various literary and musical societies functioning in the town.

Many noted people representing Armenian culture, movement for freedom as well as state and military figures were born in Shushi.

In 1921 Shushi consisting in Nagorno-Karabakh region was given to Azerbaijan by the Soviet authorities. A policy of cleansing Armenian people in the course of many decades has triggered the struggle for liberation. The Armenian self-defense forces led by A. Ter-Tadevosyan (Commandos) liberated Shushi on May 9, 1992.