Today marks five years since the liberation of Zangilan.
"Report" recalls that on October 20, 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander Ilham Aliyev, announced in an address to the nation that the city of Zangilan and six more villages of the district – Havali, Zarnali, Mammedbeyli, Hakari, Sharifan, Muganli – had been liberated from occupation.
The Zangilan battles were among the most successful Arazbank operations in the Second Karabakh War, resulting in the victory of the Azerbaijani Army.
Based on the relevant decrees signed by President Ilham Aliyev on December 25, 2020, and June 24, 2021, a group of servicemen were awarded the medal "For the Liberation of Zangilan." They were awarded for participating in the combat operations for the liberation of the district and demonstrating personal bravery and courage.
After its liberation, in Zangilan along with demining operations, reconstruction and restoration works have been ongoing in parallel. Restoration of infrastructure within the district is being successfully implemented. Life has already returned to Zangilan. The return of internally displaced persons to the liberated territories began precisely with this district. For example, this year the return of displaced persons was ensured to the Agali village rebuilt under the "smart village" concept. The relocation of residents to their original and eternal village began in July 2022 and the process is currently ongoing.
In addition, the first airport in the district has also been constructed. On October 20, 2022, the opening ceremony of Zangilan International Airport was held. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the opening ceremony. Zangilan airport has already been granted the status of an International Airport. This is the first airport constructed in Azerbaijan's Eastern Zangazur economic region and the second airport in the liberated territories.
According to the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 31, 2023, Zangilan City Day is celebrated annually on October 20 with grand ceremonies.
It should be noted that Zangilan district is located in the south of Karabakh, on the border with Iran. The district covers an area of 707 square kilometers and has a population of 45,000 (39,000 in 1993). The district is situated in the southern part of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the Arazbank area. The area has unique beauty, towering cliffs, tulip fields, and picturesque forests and bushes. The climate is mainly temperate and warm. The Araz, Okhchuchay, Hakari, and Basitchay rivers flow through the district. These rivers, abundant in water throughout the year, were used not only for domestic and agricultural purposes but also in various other sectors. The area contains useful minerals such as building stone, lime raw materials, gold, black marble, and others.
Zangilan district was occupied by the Armed Forces of Armenia on October 30, 1993. At the time of occupation, the district included 1 city, 5 settlements, and 79 villages. In Zangilan, alongside agriculture, animal husbandry was also developed. However, as a result of 27 years of occupation, the resources of Zangilan were plundered by the enemy, infrastructure was destroyed, and residential areas were subjected to vandalism. Houses and historical monuments in the district were completely destroyed, and trees were cut down.