Azerbaijan marks fifth anniversary of Aghdam’s liberation from Armenian occupation

Today, November 20, Azerbaijan celebrates Aghdam City Day, a date that carries deep historical and emotional significance.

As Caliber.Az recalls, the establishment of this significant date is directly linked to the history of Aghdam’s liberation from Armenian occupation. This November 20 marks five years since its liberation.

As a result of Azerbaijan’s brilliant victory in the Patriotic War, Aghdam was liberated from occupation without a single shot being fired.

On September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army, having prevented a provocation by the Armenian armed forces, launched a counter-offensive, liberating several districts, hundreds of villages and settlements, as well as strategic heights.

The daily successes of the Azerbaijani Army caused profound fear both within the ranks of Armenia’s armed forces and among its population. Demoralised Armenian troops attempted to flee the battlefield.

The 44-day Patriotic War culminated in the resounding victory of the Azerbaijani Army.

Since Aghdam had been completely mined by the enemy, with the bulk of Armenia’s occupying forces concentrated in this direction and the strongest fortifications built here, it was decided not to conduct large-scale military operations on this axis. Had the Azerbaijani Armed Forces launched an offensive on this part of the front, it would have resulted in significant losses among personnel. Moreover, the war could have taken on a protracted character. The Azerbaijani Army conducted combat operations along the entire line of contact, with the exception of the Aghdam direction.

As a result of the successful operations carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the enemy forces in Aghdam found themselves encircled. This caused great panic both among Armenia’s population and within its military-political leadership.

Realising their powerlessness, Armenia’s military-political leadership was forced to sign an act of capitulation.

According to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, hostilities were completely halted. The second clause of the statement stipulated the return of the Aghdam district to Azerbaijan by November 20, 2020. Thus, the city of Aghdam, which had been under occupation for 27 years, was liberated from the Armenian occupiers without a single shot being fired, and the tricolour flag of Azerbaijan was raised over the city.

According to the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 31, 2023, Aghdam City Day is celebrated annually on November 20.

Aghdam was occupied by Armenian armed formations on July 23, 1993. The occupiers seized 846.8 square kilometres — or 77.4% of Aghdam’s territory — located in the very heart of Karabakh, including one city and 80 villages. Under occupation were 26 of 38 collective and state farms, 105 of 129 healthcare facilities, 74 of 108 schools, 199 of 271 cultural centres, 14 of 17 mosques, 24 construction organisations and 67 enterprises. As a result of the Armenian occupation, Aghdam suffered damage amounting to 13.135 billion US dollars. Numerous historical monuments of Aghdam — cultural and architectural landmarks, including the first Bread Museum in the entire USSR and the second of its kind in the world — were barbarically destroyed by the Armenian occupiers.

In the battles for Aghdam, 6,000 Azerbaijani servicemen fell as martyrs, 16 of whom were awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan.