Great Return: Families move back to Shusha as Karabakh revitalization advances PHOTO

Under the directive of President Ilham Aliyev and as part of the State Programme on the Great Return, another group of internally displaced families has been relocated to Shusha, the cultural and historical heart of Azerbaijan.

This latest resettlement involves 48 families, totalling 164 people, who previously lived in temporary accommodations such as hostels, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings across various districts, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The column was dispatched from the Garadagh district of Baku to the restored Shusha city.

The resettlement marks a significant step in the ongoing efforts to restore life in Karabakh and East Zangezur. Currently, around 30,000 people reside in these liberated territories. This includes former internally displaced persons (IDPs) and individuals employed in infrastructure projects, state institutions, and sectors such as healthcare, education, tourism, and industry, which have resumed operations in the region.

Shusha, liberated on November 8, 2020, during the 44-day Second Karabakh War, holds profound cultural and spiritual significance for the Azerbaijani people. Its liberation was a turning point in the conflict, and the date is now celebrated annually as Victory Day.

Since reclaiming these territories, the Azerbaijani government has launched an ambitious reconstruction initiative, rebuilding infrastructure, roads, schools, and healthcare facilities. The "Great Return" programme, officially launched in 2022, is designed to facilitate the resettlement of displaced persons. Following counter-terrorism measures in September 2023, which solidified Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Karabakh, the programme has gained momentum.

The first phase aims to resettle 140,000 people across 100 reconstructed settlements in Karabakh and East Zangezur by 2026. A second phase, extending from 2026 to 2040, will complete the resettlement process across all liberated territories.

To date, 2,275 families — 8,743 individuals — have returned to their homes in various areas, including Aghali in Zangilan, Talish in Aghdara, Fuzuli, Lachin, Zabukh, Sus, Shusha, Khojaly, and Jabrayil. Among them, 137 families (474 individuals) who previously lived in shared accommodations have been resettled, further demonstrating Azerbaijan's commitment to revitalizing its reclaimed lands and ensuring a stable future for its citizens.

By Tamilla Hasanova