The National Museum of Azerbaijan History will launch an exhibition in May dedicated to the 20th century’s leading Turkologists, highlighting their scholarly contributions and their destiny as victims of repression, Bahman Karimov, senior researcher at the museum, PhD in History, told AZERTAC.

According to him, the exhibition to be organized based on the 1926 First Turkology Congress in Baku will display archival records highlighting the key figures and organizers behind the historic event.

Karimov noted that the Congress served as a turning point for Turkology, creating a collaborative space for scientists and public figures to address vital issues like alphabet reform and language development. He said that despite its success in establishing a shared scientific framework, the event is also remembered for the many participants who were subsequently targeted by political repressions.

The exhibition will also feature a special section featuring the Congress leadership and Presidium members, highlighting the activities of Samad agha Aghamalioglu, Chairman of the Congress and the Central Executive Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR. It will also display documents and photos of public and political figures Ruhulla Akhundov, Habib Jabiyev, professor Bakir Chobanzade, Mustafa Guliyev, Gazanfar Musabayov, and others.

The exhibition explores the lives of Turkological scholars who were silenced by political repression or endured severe persecution for their activity. Visitors will also familiarize themselves with Salman Mumtaz’s works of classical literature, Hanafi Zeynalli’s research in terminology, and Bakir Chobanzade’s contributions to comparative linguistics, along with personal archives, publications, and documents of these scientists.

The exhibition aims to honor the victims of repression while reintegrating their scientific contributions into contemporary public and academic discourse.