On May 24, 2024, the villages of Gazakh region, Baganis Ayrim, Ashaghi Askipara, Kheyrimli and Gizilhajili, which had been under occupation for more than 30 years, were taken under control by the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of delimitation and demarcation with Armenia.
These villages are expected to be restored to a high standard and handed over to the population.
Modern.az contacted Samad Seyidov, deputy of Gazakh, chairman of the Milli Majlis Committee on International Relations and Interparliamentary Relations, to learn about the current situation and ongoing work in these villages.
In his statement to our website, he said that these 4 villages are the most beautiful villages of Gazakh in terms of their geographical location, nature, and emotional-psychological value.
“Gazakh showed heroism in both the First and Second Karabakh wars, not retreating a single step. However, unfortunately, when these villages were occupied by fascists from Armenia, genocide was carried out in these villages. Babies were burned alive. Unimaginable crimes were committed. The Azerbaijani people once again demonstrated their wisdom and patience to the whole world.”
The deputy noted that the return of these 4 villages is a direct triumph of the President's policy:
“Because, without firing a single bullet, based on the results of negotiations, Armenian armed forces were withdrawn from those villages, and the Azerbaijani Army has already strengthened its positions in those villages. A few weeks after that event, when the opportunity arose, I visited each of those villages with our servicemen and the district leadership. There was a very high-risk situation in those villages. Because everywhere was mined and carried the danger of death. We walked around the villages under the observation of our very experienced servicemen.”
S. Seyidov emphasized that immediately after the liberation of the villages, restoration and design work began within the framework of the Great Return project:
“Design work for the restoration of destroyed, demolished, stolen buildings was immediately started to bring life back to those villages. The district leadership, especially representatives of the Azerbaijani government, have actively participated, are participating, and will continue to participate in these matters.”
The deputy stated that the residents of these villages currently mainly live in Gazakh and are waiting to return to their native lands:
“Another important issue is that the people who left these villages have not scattered to different regions of Azerbaijan. They are in Gazakh. Most of them live in buildings built by the state and provided for their use. Therefore, they are eagerly waiting to return to their villages.”
The committee chairman added that the process of design, demining, and reconstruction is currently actively continuing:
“Under the leadership of the commission of the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev, several meetings have been held there regarding delimitation and demarcation with Armenians, and in general, the issue of designing these villages, rebuilding and commissioning them, and returning them to the residents has been discussed. This process is going on very actively. This process has actually started. The process of design, demining of territories, planning of specific architecture, identification of household facilities, construction of schools, identification of medical centers – all problems are currently being discussed. In a short time, we will see real changes there. God willing, we will become living witnesses of these issues. I am very happy that these villages have been returned to Gazakh, and we will see the return of residents to these villages, just like in Karabakh.”
