"Mehriban Alekberzadeh's "Code Name: VXA"

Age limit: 18+

Author: Mehriban Alekberzadeh

Director and playwright: Mehriban Alekberzadeh (Honored Artist)

Leading roles: People's Artists Naiba Allahverdiyeva, Nubar Novruzova, Honored Artists Shefag Aliyeva, Kamala Muzaffar, Leyli Veliyeva, Nesibe Eldarova, Gulnar Nabiyeva, actors Zemfira Abdulsamadova, Gunel Mammadova, Sabina Mammadzade, Aygun Fatullayeva, Konul Abilova

Genre: Historical-documentary drama

Duration of the performance: Two parts - Part I - 2 hours

                                                     Part II - 1 hour 30 minutes

The chief director of the Young Spectators Theater, Honored Artist Mehriban Alekberzadeh, with her play "Code Name: VXA," pays tribute to one of the darkest pages in our history, dedicated to the Azerbaijani women who faced the repressions of the 1930s.

The play focuses on the tragic fate of one of the victims of repression - the distinguished representative of Azerbaijani literature, a public figure, a renowned educator, Ahmad Javad, who was born 130 years ago, as well as the example of Sukriyya Akhundzadeh, who faced repression while protecting her dignity. The play delves into the lives of these women and the harsh realities they experienced during the tumultuous events of the 1930s.

Mehriban Alekberzadeh, as the author and director of "Code Name: VXA," creates a portrayal of the horrifying scenes of the 1930s based on historical and documentary facts:

• Azerbaijan's bright personalities are stigmatized as "enemies of the homeland," and both men and women are imprisoned. The "Stalinists" treat women with cruelty and inhumanity in Bayil prison, subjecting them to severe torture. After a prolonged interrogation process, innocent women are given lengthy sentences: some receive 8, some 10, and others even 15 years. Despite the harsh conditions, the women are relieved that the process of accusations is over. Women who survived the torture look forward to a better future, eagerly awaiting reunions with their loved ones. However, little do they know about the torment that awaits them as they are transported to Akmola in cold, cramped train cars. There, women are treated like animals, subjected to savage behavior. Among these women, some commit suicide after enduring various forms of torture, while others endure the torture to protect their honor. Among the 1502 abandoned children, there is one who tries to learn about his identity and heritage, refraining from sin.

The play depicts the brutal hardships faced by these women, but there is hope for a better tomorrow. No matter how challenging, time passes, and the women regain their freedom.

The author expresses the sentiments of her characters as follows: "If you remember us and if any sign of us remains, it means we existed. We lived. Without witnesses, without evidence... They spent our lives, our honor. We were at the bottom of Life... and even lower... The most important thing is that you remember us." This is our debt to these 37 women, who were actually 26 thousand... These women were the unseen heroes of history... History is not just made up of loud wars but also silent battles. History has its silent, delicate, and incredibly strong female participants. They base their victory not only on the physical but also on the moral aspect."

As the author and director, Mehriban Alekberzadeh, speaking to a wide audience, wants to say that we should not forget our history. Those who forget their past have no future.