Flourishing Zangilan: New video shows how returnees building paradise in Aghali

The restored village of Aghali in Azerbaijan's Zangilan district, liberated from occupation, stands as one of the symbols of the Great Victory, Caliber.Az writes.

Spacious, bright houses, wide streets, a modern-style school and kindergarten, and the necessary infrastructure providing decent living conditions have brought joy to the former internally displaced persons who have returned to their homeland.

The State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons has released a video showcasing the journey of the Zangilan village from ruins to prosperity.

It is crucial to note that Aghali village in the Zangilan district was liberated from Armenian occupation in 2020 during the Second Karabakh War. It became the first village to be rebuilt under the “Great Return” state program.

On July 19, 2022, the first group of internally displaced persons (IDPs) comprising 41 families (201 people) returned to Aghali, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the village. Since then, a total of over 1,000 individuals from approximately 200 families have resettled in the area. Aghali was reconstructed based on the "smart village" concept, using renewable energy, eco-friendly materials, and digital technologies.

Key changes in Aghali include building 150 homes, a school, a kindergarten, a health clinic, and a small hydroelectric power plant. Important service centers like ASAN Service, the DOST center, and the Small and Medium Business Development Center have also been set up to help local residents.

The “Great Return” program aims to resettle about 34,500 families — or around 140,000 people — back to the Karabakh and East Zangazur regions by 2026. Aghali’s development shows Azerbaijan’s strong efforts to rebuild the areas it regained and to give its people a better future.

By Khagan Isayev