Foreign diplomats arrive in Azerbaijan's liberated Aghdam UPDATED/PHOTO

A delegation of foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan, including military attachés and representatives of international organisations arrived in liberated Aghdam.

The guests will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the destruction caused by Armenia during the years of occupation, Caliber.Az reports citing local media. 

During the visit, the delegation also reviewed the ongoing reconstruction efforts aimed at revitalising the city and restoring its infrastructure.

13:02

A delegation of foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan, including military attachés and representatives of international organisations, visited the historic Mehmandarovs' House in Shusha, as part of a tour showcasing the city’s cultural revival.

The guests were introduced to the architectural ensemble of the 18th-century estate, which has undergone significant restoration since the end of Armenian occupation, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

During the occupation period, most of the estate’s structures — including the bathhouse — were destroyed, the smaller house was abandoned for years, and the historic spring’s stone inscriptions were damaged, with its water supply lost.

Following Shusha’s liberation, extensive restoration work was carried out to revive the estate’s original appearance.

As part of their visit, the diplomats also toured the Jidir Duzu plateau, where they experienced the natural beauty of Shusha’s surrounding landscapes.

The delegation was also briefed on the extent of the destruction and acts of vandalism committed during the occupation, providing them with firsthand insight into the challenges faced during the city’s reconstruction efforts.

11:52

A delegation of diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan, including military attachés and heads of international organisations, visited a residential complex in the city of Shusha.

During the visit, the guests were introduced to the living conditions of residents who have returned to Shusha following its restoration, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The delegation’s visit comes after the official opening of the first residential complex in Shusha on May 10, 2024, marking an important milestone in the city’s reconstruction efforts.

11:19

A delegation of diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan, including military attachés and heads of international organisations, visited Shusha to observe the ongoing reconstruction efforts and explore key cultural sites restored after years of Armenian occupation.

The delegation toured Karabakh Street in Shusha, where they were briefed on the city’s rich history and the extensive rebuilding process that has transformed the urban landscape since the end of the occupation. The diplomats saw firsthand how Shusha is rapidly changing, gaining a new appearance through large-scale restoration projects, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

As part of the visit, the group toured the museum house of Bulbul, the celebrated Azerbaijani opera singer, musicologist, and folklorist. Restored and reopened on August 29, 2021, after many years of neglect, the museum showcases Bulbul’s life and contributions to Azerbaijani music.

Polad Bulbul oglu guided the delegation through the facility, explaining the restoration work, which included strengthening the building’s structural elements and preserving the historic garden.

The visit concluded with a tour of the Uzeyir Hajibeyov House Museum, where the diplomats received information about the life and work of the great Azerbaijani composer, further highlighting the importance of cultural preservation in Shusha’s revival.

10:22

A delegation of diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan, including military attachés and representatives of international organisations, arrived in Shusha on June 21 to review the progress of restoration work in the city.

During the visit, the delegation will be briefed on ongoing reconstruction efforts and future development plans in the city, which was heavily damaged during the years of occupation. The diplomats will also explore Shusha’s rich historical heritage and witness first-hand the extent of destruction that occurred, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The visit is part of a broader diplomatic programme designed to highlight Azerbaijan’s post-conflict recovery and reconstruction initiatives across the liberated territories. It also aims to promote understanding of the country’s efforts to prepare for the return of displaced residents.

Earlier, Azerbaijani presidential aide Hikmet Hajiyev shared updates on social media about a the foreign diplomats' visit to Lachin, including video footage of the delegation’s arrival at Lachin International Airport.

The itinerary also includes a stop in Aghdam, another city undergoing extensive reconstruction. The diplomats are scheduled to return to Baku via the newly reopened Aghdam–Baku railway, showcasing the restoration of key transport links in the region.

Shusha, often described as the "pearl of Karabakh" and regarded as the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, holds profound symbolic, historical, and strategic importance for the country.

The city was occupied by Armenian forces on May 8, 1992, during the First Karabakh War. Its capture marked a significant moment in the conflict and resulted in nearly three decades of occupation.

Shusha was liberated during the Second Karabakh War in the autumn of 2020 — a 44-day conflict that saw Azerbaijan regain control over large parts of its territory. The Battle of Shusha, fought from November 4 to November 8, 2020, proved to be a decisive turning point in the war. Azerbaijani special forces, operating in difficult mountainous terrain, engaged in intense close-quarters combat to retake the city.

By Sabina Mammadli