Keys to new beginning: 29 more families resettled in Azerbaijan’s Hasanriz under national initiative PHOTO / UPDATED

In a step forward for Azerbaijan’s Great Return initiative, a new group of formerly displaced persons has arrived in Hasanriz village of Aghdara district, where they were formally handed the keys to newly built homes.

The handover ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Special Representation of the President of Azerbaijan in the city of Khankandi, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts, alongside representatives from the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Caliber.Az reports via local media.

This latest phase of the resettlement effort includes 29 families comprising 114 individuals, who have now joined earlier returnees. With this arrival, a total of 119 families—amounting to 420 people—now reside in Hasanriz, marking the ongoing transformation of the once-occupied village into a fully restored, livable community.

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A new group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has embarked on the return journey to Hasanriz village in Aghdara district, marking a significant step in the ongoing resettlement efforts following the region’s recent geopolitical changes.

The caravan carrying the natives of Hasanriz departed from Flag Square in Tartar district, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

This latest contingent comprises 29 families, totaling 114 individuals. With their arrival, the population of Hasanriz is expected to reach 119 families, or approximately 420 residents.

During the period of Armenian occupation, these families were temporarily relocated across various parts of Azerbaijan, primarily housed in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings. Their return signals a gradual restoration of normalcy and community life in the village.

The resettlement coincides with broader efforts across Karabakh and East Zangezur, where over 50,000 people—including former IDPs, project workers, and officials—are actively contributing to regional redevelopment. These efforts span multiple sectors, including healthcare, education, culture, tourism, industry, and energy, reflecting a comprehensive revival of public services and infrastructure.

Following two years of intensive demining and reconstruction efforts after the liberation of a significant part of its territories from Armenian occupation through the 44-day Second Karabakh War of 2020, in July 2022, Azerbaijan officially launched the Great Return program as a comprehensive, state-led effort to facilitate the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their revitalised ancestral lands.

The program aims to restore communities and ensure sustainable living conditions in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions. By 2026, the first phase targets the resettlement of 140,000 IDPs across 100 settlements, with a long-term goal of full restoration by 2040.

By Vafa Guliyeva