Azerbaijan marks anniversary of Lachin's liberation from Armenian occupation Four Years of Freedom

Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Lachin district from the occupation by Armenian armed forces.

It has been four years since Lachin was freed from Armenian occupation, Caliber.Az recalls.

According to the Trilateral Statement signed on November 10, 2020, by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the Lachin district was returned to Azerbaijan on December 1.

Lachin was occupied during the First Karabakh War on May 18, 1992. Its path to freedom began in the autumn of 2020.

On September 27 of that year, the Azerbaijani army, responding to provocations by Armenian armed forces, launched a counter-offensive and, in just 44 days, liberated 5 cities, 4 settlements, and 286 villages from occupation.

The liberated territories included the city of Jabrayil and 90 villages of the district; the city of Fuzuli and 53 villages of the district; the city of Zangilan, the settlements of Minjivan, Aghband, Bartaz, and 52 villages of the district; the settlement of Hadrut and 35 villages of the Khojavend district; 3 villages of the Tartar district; the city of Gubadli and 41 villages of the district; 9 villages of the Khojaly district; the city of Shusha; 3 villages of the Lachin district; as well as several strategic heights in the Aghdara and Murovdagh directions, including Bartaz, Sygyrt, Shukurataz, and five unnamed heights in Zangilan.

The Patriotic War ended with a brilliant victory for the Azerbaijani army. In the cities, villages, and settlements liberated from occupation, the glorious three-coloured flag of Azerbaijan was raised.

By the decree of President Ilham Aliyev, signed on July 31, 2023, August 26 was declared Lachin City Day.

By Khagan Isayev