Great Return: Azerbaijan’s Hasanriz village welcomes back residents with key ceremony PHOTO/UPDATED

The long-awaited return of residents to Hasanriz village in Aghdara district has taken a significant step forward with the recent handing over of keys to newly constructed flats.

The ceremony, which took place in the village, was attended by employees of the Special Representation of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city, and the Aghdara and Khojaly districts, as well as officials from the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The families, who had been temporarily residing in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings in various parts of the country, were welcomed back to their newly restored homes in Hasanriz. These individuals, displaced due to the ongoing regional challenges, are now able to return to their native village after years of uncertainty.

As of the latest update, 70 families, comprising 238 individuals, have successfully moved back to Hasanriz, marking a significant milestone in the village's rehabilitation and the government's broader efforts to ensure the return of displaced communities.

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A new chapter in the resettlement process has unfolded with the relocation of another group of families to the village of Hasanriz, Azerbaijan's Aghdara district.

This marks the third stage of a significant resettlement program aimed at returning former internally displaced persons (IDPs) to their ancestral lands, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

According to reports, 20 families, comprising a total of 72 individuals, have now made the journey back to their native village. These families had previously lived in temporary accommodations, including dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings. The relocation symbolizes a key milestone in the ongoing effort to restore stability and permanence to the region.

Azerbaijan’s post-war reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories of Karabakh and East Zangazur are progressing rapidly. Following the conclusion of the Patriotic War in 2020, the government initiated major restoration projects aimed at rebuilding infrastructure, improving socio-economic conditions, and facilitating the return of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The State Program, approved in 2022, includes the construction of over 34,500 residential units, schools, healthcare facilities, and roads, as well as the clearance of 280,000 hectares of minefields. By 2026, it is expected that 140,000 IDPs will return to their homeland. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation is pivotal in restoring cultural and historical landmarks, while sustainable urban planning is being integrated into the development process.

The "Great Return" program will unfold in multiple phases, with the second phase planned for 2026-2040.

By Vafa Guliyeva