Azerbaijan to resettle 20,000 people in Aghdam by 2026, official says

By the end of 2026, 20,000 people will be resettled in Azerbaijan's Aghdam, according to Emin Huseynov, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan for Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts.

Huseynov stated that work on design projects in the newly liberated territories of Azerbaijan is nearing completion, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He added that the projects included in the State Programme will be finalised by the end of next year.

"This year, we plan to resettle approximately 10,000 people in the city of Aghdam and three surrounding villages. By the end of 2026, the number of resettled individuals is expected to reach 20,000," Huseynov said.

Moreover, Guseynov added that, "soon, construction will begin on the villages of Pirahmedli and Garakhanbeyli in the Fuzuli district."

According to him, the unemployment rate in Fuzuli is less than 9%, stating: "This shows that life has returned to Fuzuli."

To recall, Azerbaijan's post-war reconstruction and revitalisation efforts in the liberated territories of Karabakh and East Zangezur are progressing rapidly. Following the end of the Patriotic War in 2020, the government launched extensive restoration and development projects aimed at rebuilding infrastructure, enhancing socio-economic conditions, and ensuring the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs). 

The State Programme, approved in 2022, outlines key initiatives, including the construction of over 34,500 residential units, educational institutions, healthcare centres, and roads, alongside efforts to clear 280,000 hectares of minefields. By 2026, 140,000 IDPs are expected to return. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation plays a key role in restoring cultural and historical heritage, while modern urban planning incorporating sustainable practices is being implemented.

The "Great Return" programme will extend over multiple phases, with the second phase set for 2026-2040. This ambitious programme demonstrates Azerbaijan’s capacity for large-scale development, reaffirming its strength and resilience post-conflict.

By Aghakazim Guliyev