The foundations of the walls of the Shushi fortress were laid by Avan Haryurapet as early as 1724. The circumstances of this fact were discovered in 1725 by the Russian general Matyushkin.In  a letter written on December 19, where it is said that Avan Haryurapet, obeying the request of the people of Artsakh, stayed in Shushi and built a fortress. In 1750-1752 it was rebuilt by Panah Ali Khan. Armenian historians believe that the name of the city of Shushi comes from the name of the fortress. The ancient fortress-city was the administrative, religious, cultural and educational center of Artsakh for many centuries.