Azerbaijan starts demolition of separatist "government house" in Khankendi New administrative building planned

Work has been underway for over two weeks to demolish a building in Khankendi, once known as a stronghold for separatists, the so-called "Government House".

Afet Telmangyzy, Head of Public Relations at the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service for Khankendi, the Aghdam, and Khojaly regions, confirmed the ongoing demolition, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

She explained that the building had housed the Azerbaijani President’s Special Representative Office for Khankendi, Aghdam, and Khojaly, as well as the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service. Staff members have now been relocated to another building.

The demolition was prompted by the building’s deterioration and its unsuitability for use. Telmangyzy confirmed that the structure could not be repaired or restored, leading to the decision to demolish it.

Plans are in place to construct a new administrative building in its place.

To recall, the city of Khankendi was occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces and Armenian separatists from Karabakh on December 26, 1991, until it was liberated by Azerbaijan in 2023.

Thus, as a result of a local anti-terror operation by the Azerbaijani army on September 19-20, 2023, Azerbaijani police restored full control over the city on September 29. 

On October 15, 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev raised the national flag in Khankendi. A military parade was held on November 8, 2023 to commemorate the victory in the Second Karabakh War.

By Aghakazim Guliyev