Azerbaijani families given keys to new homes in Aghdam's Sarijali Photo

As many as 39 families, once forced from their homes by conflict, have officially returned to the village of Sarijali in Azerbaijan’s Aghdam region, receiving keys to brand-new homes in an emotional homecoming marked by optimism and resilience.

The handover ceremony was attended by representatives of the Azerbaijani President’s Special Envoy to the Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Khojavend districts, alongside officials from the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

In total, 169 people have now resettled in Sarijali, a village that had stood largely empty for years following the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. For many, the day symbolised far more than just a change of address — it marked a return to roots, to memory, and to the possibility of a peaceful future.

The return forms part of Azerbaijan’s broader repatriation and reconstruction initiative, focused on revitalising Karabakh and East Zangezur. According to the authorities, more than 40,000 people are now living in the region — not only returnees but also public sector workers, healthcare and education staff, cultural and tourism professionals, and employees in the industry and energy sectors.

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Under President Ilham Aliyev's directive and the State Programme on the Great Return, another group of internally displaced families has returned to Sarijali village in Aghdam and Ballyja village in Khojaly, Azerbaijan.

Thus, groups of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had previously been living in temporary accommodation — including hostels, sanatoriums, children's camps, unfinished buildings, and administrative facilities across the country — departed from Baku’s Garadagh district, Caliber.Az reports.

At this stage, 39 families (totalling 169 individuals) are returning to Sarijali, while 15 families (68 people) are resettling in Ballija.

The returns are part of a broader government programme to rebuild and repopulate areas previously affected by the conflict. The villages have been equipped with new housing and modern infrastructure to support the returning residents.

Ahead of his return to Ballija, former IDP Zafar Mammadov expressed hope and gratitude: "Under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani army showed great courage and achieved victory on the battlefield. I wish to spend the remainder of my life on my native land. I pray that other former displaced persons will soon be able to return to their homes as well."

Mammadov also extended his thanks to the government and paid tribute to the memory of the soldiers who lost their lives, as well as offering well-wishes to the wounded veterans.

Another returning resident, Alyar Mammadov, shared his emotions upon returning to Sarijali after 33 years away: "It is difficult to put into words how I feel. My greatest dream is coming true. Our state has provided us with spacious, comfortable homes and all the necessary infrastructure. Now we must live, work, and build on this land."

He too expressed gratitude to the Azerbaijani armed forces for their role in the liberation of the territories and paid respects to those who had fallen.

Note that, following Azerbaijan’s 2020 victory in the Patriotic War, Sarijali village in the Aghdam district was returned to Azerbaijani control under the Trilateral Statement signed on November 20 2020. Before the occupation, it was home to 1,024 people across 239 families.

President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation for the village’s reconstruction on October 4, 2022. The redeveloped Sarijali spans over 123 hectares and will accommodate 425 families — or 1,873 residents — in newly built individual homes.

The redevelopment includes full restoration of key infrastructure and the addition of schools, cultural centres, economic hubs, and social services to support long-term resettlement. Sarijali now stands as a symbol of resilience and national revival.

Moreover, the liberation of Khojaly marks a pivotal chapter in Azerbaijan's recent history, symbolising national resilience and the pursuit of justice. In February 1992, Armenian forces, backed by the 366th CIS regiment, carried out a massacre in Khojaly, killing 613 civilians—including 63 children, 106 women, and 70 elderly people. Recognised by Azerbaijan as genocide, the atrocity left lasting scars.

Since the city's liberation in 2023, restoration and commemoration efforts have intensified. President Ilham Aliyev has launched the construction of a memorial complex, while the "Justice for Khojaly" campaign, begun in 2008, continues to gain global support, with several countries and U.S. states recognising the massacre as a crime against humanity.

By Aghakazim Guliyev