Return to Karabakh: 25 families receive keys to new homes in Hasanriz village Photo/Updated

The first group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has been handed the keys to their new homes in the village of Hasanriz in Azerbaijan’s Aghdara region.

Officials from the State Committee for Refugees and IDPs, along with representatives of the Azerbaijani president’s special office for the regions of Khankendi, Aghdara, and Khojaly attended the key handover ceremony, Caliber.Az reports.

As part of the initial phase of resettlement, 25 families—totalling 91 people—have been relocated to the village.

12:06

The first caravan of displaced persons has arrived in Hasanriz, a village in the Aghdara district of Azerbaijan's Karabakh, as part of the government's resettlement programme.

25 families, comprising 91 individuals, are relocating to the area, Caliber.Az reports.

These families had previously been living in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings across various regions of the country.

The returnees expressed their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state support provided during this process.

To recall, Azerbaijan’s post-war reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories of Karabakh and East Zangezur 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 Programme, 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. 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" programme will unfold in multiple phases, with the second phase planned for 2026-2040. This ambitious initiative highlights Azerbaijan’s robust development capacity, underscoring its post-conflict strength and resilience.

By Aghakazim Guliyev