Today marks the first-ever Aghdam City Day in Azerbaijan, Report informs.
Thus, Aghdam City Day is solemnly celebrated on November 20 every year, following the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 31, 2023.
The celebration of this significant day on this date is related to the liberation of the city of Aghdam on November 20, 2020.
As a result of Azerbaijan's brilliant victory in the Patriotic War, Aghdam was freed from the enemy without firing a shot.
The withdrawal of the occupying Armenian Armed Forces from Aghdam was possible thanks to the political leadership and commanding skills of the President of Azerbaijan, victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and the successful military operations of the Azerbaijani Army in the Great Patriotic War.
Thus, on September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army, which prevented the provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces on the frontline, counterattacked and liberated several regions, hundreds of villages and settlements, and strategic heights from the enemy. The 44-day Patriotic War, which resulted in the hoisting of the Azerbaijani tricolor flag in the liberated cities, villages, and settlements, ended with the Victory of the Azerbaijani Army.
Since the Armenians completely mined Aghdam, the main part of the occupying troops was concentrated in this direction, and the strongest fortifications were installed there, the Azerbaijani Army did not conduct extensive military operations in this direction using military tactics. Otherwise, the Azerbaijani army could have suffered a lot of losses. It could create difficulties on the way to Victory. However, the enemy first waited for the Azerbaijani army from this direction. But the Azerbaijani Army continued its military operations, advancing along all other areas of the contact line at that time, except for Aghdam.
The occupying Armenian forces could not withstand the irreversible attack of the Azerbaijani Army and retreated with significant losses. At the same time, thousands of enemy troops and military equipment were destroyed. The military-political leadership of Armenia, realizing the futility of resisting the Azerbaijani Army, was forced to sign a capitulation document.
Thus, all military operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone were stopped entirely on November 10, 2020. According to the second paragraph of the statement, the Aghdam district was to be returned to Azerbaijan by November 20, 2020. Thus, Aghdam, which had been under occupation for 27 years, was liberated from the invaders. On the same day, units of the Azerbaijani Army entered the district and raised the Azerbaijani flag there.
On November 23, 2020, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the liberated city of Aghdam. The head of state raised the tricolor flag of Azerbaijan in Agdam.
During the past three years, President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Aghdam district many times, and got acquainted with the repair, restoration and reconstruction works carried out there. They participated in many events and opening ceremonies in the district.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva visited the Aghdam district on May 2, 2023. The head of state laid a foundation stone for the Digital Management Center and Training-Education Complex owned by “Azerishig” OJSC in the city of Aghdam. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva then laid the foundation stone for the Aghdam Mugham Center, the 2nd and 3rd residential quarters to be built in the city of Aghdam, and an administrative building in the city of Aghdam. The head of state also viewed the progress of the construction of the Barda-Aghdam railway line.
On September 19 of this year, local anti-terrorist measures were launched in the region in order to ensure the provisions of the Trilateral Declaration, prevent large-scale provocations in the Karabakh economic region, disarm and withdraw the Armenian armed forces units from our territories, neutralize their military infrastructure, ensure the safety of civilians returning to the liberated territories and the civil workers and military personnel involved in the reconstruction work, and restore the constitutional structure of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During the measures that lasted for a little more than 23 hours, the positions of the Armenian armed forces on the front line and in-depth and long-term firing points, as well as combat vehicles and military objects were destroyed by the use of high-precision weapons. The enemy raised a white flag. With this, the constitutional structure was restored in all territories of Azerbaijan.
Currently, restoration and reconstruction works are being carried out in Agdam, new infrastructure is being built, and the city is reviving. Thus, after the Patriotic War, infrastructure restoration and reconstruction works were started in the region. Aghdam is waiting for its ancient inhabitants now.
The Armenian Armed Forces occupied Aghdam on July 23, 1993. About 846 sq. km. (77.4%), of Aghdam, located in the center of Karabakh, i.e. 1 city and 80 villages fell into the hands of Armenians. Twenty-six out of 38 collective and state farms, 105 out of 129 healthcare facilities, 74 out of 108 schools, 199 out of 271 houses of culture, 24 construction organizations, 67 enterprises, and 14 out of 17 mosques of the district were occupied. The city of Aghdam, its numerous historical monuments, cultural and architectural sites were savagely destroyed by the enemy. Aghdam gave 6,000 martyrs in battles with the enemy; 16 of them are National Heroes of Azerbaijan.