Azerbaijani families return to Khankendi, Khojaly, Aghdara with keys to new homes PHOTO / UPDATED

21 August 2026 15:00

New groups of internally displaced people have returned to Khankendi, Khojaly and Aghdara districts under Azerbaijan’s “Great Return” programme.

The families moved to Karkijahan settlement in Khankendi, and to the villages of Badara, Khanyurdu, Khanabad, Ballija and Tezebina in Khojaly district, according to local media.

Other families moved to Kolatag, Hasanriz, Ashaghi Oratag and Chapar villages in Aghdara district.

Officials from the presidential special representative’s office and the State Committee for Refugee and IDP Affairs attended a ceremony where the families received the keys to their new homes.

09:07

The resettlement of Azerbaijani families to territories liberated from occupation continues under the Great Return programme, in accordance with an instruction from President Ilham Aliyev.

A total of 87 families are being relocated to Karkijahan settlement in Khankendi, villages in Khojaly district and villages in Aghdara district, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The families had previously been living temporarily in different regions of Azerbaijan, mainly in dormitories, sanatoriums and administrative buildings.

At this stage, eight families comprising 36 people have relocated to Karkijahan; five families (13 people) to Badara; four families (10 people) to Khanyurdu; eight families (31 people) to Khanabad; three families (eight people) to Ballija; and 14 families (71 people) to Tazabina in Khojaly district.

In Aghdara district, 12 families comprising 36 people have relocated to Kolatag; six families (30 people) to Hasanriz; 12 families (49 people) to Ashagy Oratag; and 15 families (51 people) to Chapar.

The returning residents expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the state’s support.

They also thanked the Azerbaijani Army and the servicemen and officers who liberated the territories, and paid tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives in the process.