Karabakh: from ruins to a new life Overview by Teymur Atayev

The visit of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to the Zangilan and Jabrayil districts was marked by a number of important events, among which the creative potential of the Azerbaijani people was particularly evident.

As early as the first days of 2026, the head of state emphasised that the victory achieved in the Second Karabakh War “shifted very large layers, both in terms of politics and character.”

One of the main priorities of our state is the restoration of the liberated territories, including the implementation of the “Great Return” programme. It also provides for establishing links between these regions. As a result, the construction of communication and energy supply systems began, which contributed to the actual integration of all liberated territories into the country’s central infrastructure.

The first step in this direction was the creation of a ring energy system. Today, electricity flows both from the centre to the regions and in the opposite direction. By the beginning of 2026, hydropower plants with a total capacity of 307 megawatts had been built.

It is quite obvious that without water supply, the implementation of the “Great Return” idea would have been difficult. A number of reservoirs were restored from scratch—for example, the Zabukhchay reservoir. The Sarsang and Sugovushan reservoirs underwent major repairs, as well as three reservoirs on the Kondalanchay River and the Khachinchay reservoir.

Without a doubt, water is life, which today is flourishing in a new interpretation. As President Ilham Aliyev noted during his January meeting with residents of the Aghdara district, life is being revived in Aghdara, Khojaly, Khankendi, Khojavend and other liberated territories, while the number of former internally displaced persons returning to their native lands is increasing every month, as all necessary conditions have already been created there: electricity, water and gas supplies are ensured, roads have been built, and jobs have been opened.

In the context of President Aliyev’s visit to the Aghdara district, it is worth recalling his inspection of the activities of the “Damirli” mining and processing complex in the village of Janyatag — the first mining project launched in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. This deposit had been under Armenian occupation since 1993 and was subject to illegal exploitation.

On January 13, the head of state also attended the opening of the “Gozlukorpu” hydroelectric power station in the village of the same name in the Aghdara district.

Already in February–March of this year, we witnessed the opening of the Memorial to the Victims of the Khojaly Genocide in Khojaly and observed with enthusiasm the restoration of private houses and infrastructure in the villages of Khanoba in the Khojavend district and Khanabad in the Khojaly district.

The head of state then emphasised that in the first years after the restoration of the country’s territorial integrity, Baku directed funds mainly to infrastructure projects, while now a growing share of financing is being allocated to the construction and restoration of residential buildings, which should accelerate the implementation of the “Great Return” programme.

And just a few days ago, we saw further confirmation of this: in the village of Shukurbeyli, 635 private houses were handed over to residents as part of the first phase, and the “Shafag” high-voltage substation in the village of Soltanli in the Jabrayil district was commissioned. Thus, Jabrayil’s infrastructure has become a strategic bridge ensuring the transmission of green energy across Azerbaijan.

It is gratifying that all these achievements are becoming known not only within Azerbaijan. At the end of March, a group of international travellers from 37 countries, during their visit to Karabakh and East Zangezur, did not hide their positive impressions of the large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly the construction of new roads and tunnels, which, according to them, is being carried out in parallel with the preservation of the region’s cultural traditions.

On the very first day of May, this region was visited by more than 150 ambassadors, diplomats, military attachés and other representatives from a total of 62 countries and international organisations operating in Azerbaijan. Let us cite only two assessments voiced in the immediate aftermath of the visit.

Thus, the Ambassador of Tajikistan, Ilhom Abdurakhmon, acknowledged that each time he visits these areas, he witnesses new changes in the region. Meanwhile, the counsellor-envoy of the Embassy of China in Azerbaijan, Ding Tao, expressed admiration for the development and transformations in Karabakh.

In other words, reconstruction in Karabakh and East Zangezur is a reality of today. As President Ilham Aliyev noted some time ago, “When I go to Garabagh, I look and see that it is black soil there. I say what a beautiful and fertile land it is. That concept of land, that is, that concept of damaged and wounded land, no longer exists. This is also a good thing. Because it is now a time of peace, a time of construction.”

The fact that all of this has become reality is the result of systematic and consistent work. As the head of state emphasised on the sidelines of the Davos Forum this year, positive results can be achieved if “you have a clear vision for your country, for your future, when you have power—even a consolidated society—and when you do what is right, it does not matter who says what or who publishes articles about you and what you are doing.”

This has also become possible because the land is in the hands of its true owners, who love their homeland. As unexpected as it may sound in this context, one may cite the words of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, spoken two days ago: “They say we lost land. How was that land ours? How was it ours? Please explain, how was it ours?  I don't want to speak behind dead people's backs, but let's say under the control of a few generals who planted wheat there, for instance, let's say, was that it? How was it ours? How? Explain it, how was it?  Did we build a school there, did we build a kindergarten, did we build a factory, did we live there, a settlement... how was it ours? It was not ours. It was not ours.”

Today, it is also widely known beyond Azerbaijan that during the period of occupation of Azerbaijan’s historically belonging territories, the Armenian side committed genocide, cultural destruction, urban destruction, and ecological devastation. The occupiers effectively left no intact buildings, engaging instead in looting and illegal exploitation.

On May 10, the President of Azerbaijan noted that “Eliminating the consequences of the occupation is also an extremely difficult process. Mines, the poisoning of lands by the occupiers, and ecocide.” As an example, he referred to the world-famous “Basitchay” nature reserve in Zangilan. Here was located the second-largest plane tree grove in the world, half of which was destroyed by Armenian occupation forces. In total, 60,000 hectares of Azerbaijan’s forest fund were destroyed during the years of occupation. President Ilham Aliyev described this as plunder, hostility and brutality, and “without any justification.”

Events of recent years convincingly demonstrate that, despite all challenges, the Azerbaijani people have not only endured but have also significantly strengthened themselves. This has led to unique results in the restoration and development of the lands liberated from occupation—results that have no parallels in global practice, especially within such a short period in historical terms.

The strength of spirit of the nation was also reflected in the conversation between President Aliyev and citizens who had returned to their native lands. They expressed gratitude both for the activities of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, who laid the foundations for the restoration of historical justice, and for the steps taken by President Ilham Aliyev in advancing this process. All of this clearly confirms how strong the cohesion of our people is, regardless of national or religious background, as well as place of residence.

During the ceremony of handing over the keys to apartments in the first residential complex of 104 flats built in Zangilan, the father of Second Karabakh War martyr Samir Sariyev, Ali Sariyev, reported that he was feeling unwell. President Ilham Aliyev immediately instructed that all necessary assistance be provided to him. Later, Ali Sariyev admitted that he was deeply moved by the head of state’s attention at a moment when he was unable to say a word due to emotion.

Such cases are precisely an indicator of social unity. That same unity which enables the Azerbaijani people to build, create and move confidently forward. In the context of today’s global fragmentation, the constructive process unfolding in the Karabakh Economic Region and East Zangezur—no matter how much it may be disputed by some—instils hope in a vast number of people, demonstrating that peaceful development and transformation of one’s homeland is still possible today.