Azerbaijani families arrived in Hasanriz receive keys to new homes Photo/Updated

A new group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has arrived in the village of Gasanriz, located in the Aghdara region.

The resettled families were presented with keys to their new homes, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The ceremony was attended by officials from the Presidential Special Representative's Office in Khankendi, the Aghdara and Khojali regions, and the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs.

With this latest influx, the population of Hasanriz has now reached 306 residents, comprising 90 families.

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A new group of former internally displaced persons has returned to their native village of Hasanriz in the Aghdara district as part of the Azerbaijani government’s resettlement programme.

As many as twenty families, comprising 68 individuals, have moved to Hasanriz during the fourth phase of the resettlement initiative, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

These individuals had previously been living in temporary accommodation, including hostels, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings.

The relocation is part of a broader plan aimed at restoring life in the territories recaptured during the 2020 Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijani officials have branded the initiative as “The Great Return.”

Currently, around 40,000 people are residing in the regions of Karabakh and East Zangezur, according to government figures.

Residents of Hasanriz have expressed joy at returning to their native land after years of displacement.

Speaking to local media, Firga Dadasheva, a resident of the village, said the reunion with fellow villagers has been particularly emotional.

"The air here is fresh, the water is clean, and the people are kind-hearted. For a long time, we were separated, but at last, we are together again. We are truly glad to see our village being restored. Once more, the voices of our people are echoing through these mountains,” she said.

​The "Great Return" initiative is Azerbaijan's ambitious program to repatriate internally displaced persons (IDPs) to territories reclaimed during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Launched in 2022, the program aims to resettle approximately 140,000 individuals by 2026, with a focus on rebuilding infrastructure and restoring communities in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions.​

As of late 2023, nearly 3,200 former IDPs have returned to areas such as Aghali, Talish, and Lachin.

The first phase involves reconstructing 100 settlements, including the development of housing, schools, hospitals, and utility networks. Significant investments have been made, with over $4.6 billion allocated between 2020 and 2023, and projections of $17.6 billion by 2030.

By Aghakazim Guliyev