Forced migrants' families begin returning to Zangilan District

A total of 1357 out of 1457 internally displaced persons (IDPs, or forced migrants) have expressed their desire to return to the village of Agaly in the Zangilan District, which, following the results of the 2020 autumn war, came under Azerbaijan's control. At the first stage, it is planned to move 41 families; ten families have already done it.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 20, 2020, the city of Zangilan, as well as 24 villages in the Fizuli, Djebrail, Khodjavend and Zangilan Districts came under the control of the Azerbaijani Army.

As reported by Vakhid Gadjiev, the Azeri President's special envoy in the Zangilan District, the first stage of IDPs' return from Baku to the Zangilan District has begun. According to his story, 1357 out of 1457 former IDPs from the village of Agaly have already expressed their desire to return. "At this stage, the return of 41 families (201 people) is planned," the "Meydan.TV" quotes him as saying.

On July 19, 10 families (58 people) returned to Agaly; the rest of them, according to Gadjiev, will return within five days.

The settlers told reporters that they were experiencing a historic moment. Khadjar Mamedova said that her family left the village 29 years ago. "My father was present at the opening of the village on May 27. When our family was forced to leave Zangilan, my mother was 19 years old, my father was 27. My brother and I were born in Baku, we never saw our homeland," the "media.az" quotes her as saying.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 20, 2022 at 05:47 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.