AZE.US
President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Arzu Aliyeva visited Khojavend district on Tuesday to review ongoing reconstruction efforts and meet with residents who recently returned to the area.
According to officials, the president was briefed on infrastructure and housing projects underway in both the city of Khojavend and the nearby village of the same name. The district was fully restored to Azerbaijani control in September 2023 following a military operation that reestablished sovereignty over the territory.
Housing Repairs And Infrastructure
In Khojavend village, 278 private homes have been identified. Of those, 128 are considered uninhabitable and 150 partially usable. Twenty homes have already been renovated, with repairs to an additional 130 scheduled this year.
In February, 20 families – totaling 94 people – returned to the village. Authorities say another 130 families, or 533 individuals, are expected to relocate between March and December.
Infrastructure work includes the construction of a 5-kilometer gas supply line, restoration of 1.5 kilometers of existing pipeline, rehabilitation of 2.1 kilometers of low-voltage power lines, and repairs to two transformer stations. Internal roads have been asphalted and pedestrian walkways installed, with further work ongoing.
City Of Khojavend: Larger-Scale Repairs
Khojavend city, which had been under Armenian control since 1992, was retaken in September 2023. In October of that year, President Aliyev raised Azerbaijan’s national flag in the city.
The district covers 1,510 square kilometers and has a population of 12,500. It includes one city, two settlements and 80 villages.
There are 980 private houses in Khojavend city. Of these, 133 are deemed unfit for use, while 847 are partially usable. Fifty-five homes have already been fully restored and made ready for occupancy. An additional 792 homes are scheduled for renovation this year.
Earlier this week, 50 families – 194 people – returned to the city. Since September last year, a total of 355 families, or 1,485 people, have resettled across five localities in the district, including Khojavend city, the settlements of Girmizi Bazar and Hadrut, and the villages of Sos and Khojavend.
Meetings With Residents
During the visit, President Aliyev and the First Lady met with several returning families in their homes. Residents spoke about living for decades as internally displaced persons in Baku and other regions, expressing relief at returning to their native land after 35 years.
Aliyev said the initial phase of state investment focused on core infrastructure – electricity, gas, water, roads and communications – to create the basic conditions for permanent resettlement. He added that the next stage prioritizes housing construction, job creation and agricultural revival.
Approximately 30,000 former internally displaced persons are now living in territories restored to Azerbaijani control, according to official figures. Authorities say the “Great Return” program will continue to accelerate as reconstruction advances.
Aliyev emphasized that ensuring long-term stability requires both sustained development and a strong defense capability, adding that the focus now is on rebuilding communities and supporting sustainable livelihoods in the region.
