Great Return: Azerbaijani families recieve keys to new homes in Aghdam's Khidirli village UPDATED

The group of Azerbaijani families, who arrived in Aghdam district's newly reconstructed village of Khidirli for permanent resettlement earlier in the day, recieved the keys to their new homes.

Several officials took part in the key-recieving ceremony, Caliber.Az writes per local media. 

13:09

Another group of Azerbaijani families has arrived in Aghdam district's newly reconstructed village of Khidirli. 

A welcoming ceremony was held to greet the new residents, Caliber.Az reports per local media. 

At this stage, 24 families, comprising 124 people, have been resettled in the village. 

09:42

Another group of Azerbaijani families has begun their journey home to the liberated territories as part of the country’s large-scale resettlement programme under the Great Return initiative.

As Caliber.Az reports via local media, 24 families comprising 124 people departed from Baku to permanently resettle in the newly reconstructed village of Khidirli, located in the Aghdam district.

The residents, who had lived as internally displaced persons for decades following Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands, expressed deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the government’s comprehensive support and care.

They also extended heartfelt thanks to the heroic Azerbaijani Army for liberating their homeland, honouring the courage of soldiers and officers who fought in the Patriotic War, and commemorating the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s territorial integrity.

During the First Karabakh War in 1993, the Khidirli village, along with large parts of Aghdam, was occupied by Armenian forces, forcing the local Azerbaijani population to flee and become internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Following the 2020 ceasefire agreement between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia, Aghdam district, including Khidirli, was returned to Azerbaijani control on 20 November 2020. The Azerbaijani government immediately launched a large-scale reconstruction and resettlement programme known as the Great Return, aimed at enabling former IDPs to return to their ancestral homes in liberated areas.

Khidirli is among the key villages being rebuilt under this programme. Phase 1 of the project covers around 170 hectares, with plans to accommodate thousands of returning residents. The reconstruction includes residential housing, schools, kindergartens, service buildings, roads, utilities, and green spaces to ensure modern living standards.

Since March 2025, Azerbaijani authorities have gradually relocated IDP families back to Khidirli. Prior resettlement rounds saw dozens of families returning to the village, with the latest phase involving 24 families (124 people) moving from Baku to their ancestral homes. 

By Vugar Khalilov