Great Return to Khojaly: Families Relocate to Liberated Hometown Under President Ilham Aliyev’s Directive

Khojaly, The Gulf Observer: In a significant step towards the Great Return to the liberated territories, the latest group of returnees has made their way back to the city of Khojaly, in line with a directive from President Ilham Aliyev. This new phase of resettlement sees 33 families, totaling 137 individuals, returning to their hometown after years of displacement.

The families had previously been temporarily settled in various parts of Azerbaijan, including dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings. Their relocation marks a momentous development in the ongoing efforts to restore normalcy to the region, which had been severely affected by years of conflict.

The returnees expressed profound gratitude towards President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for their continuous support, which has played a pivotal role in the reintegration process. The families also extended heartfelt thanks to the Azerbaijani Army for their bravery and sacrifices in liberating their homeland, honoring the martyrs who gave their lives for the cause with prayers.

In addition to the returning families, over 40,000 people are now living and working across the Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur regions. This growing population includes not only former internally displaced persons but also those contributing to the ongoing development projects in the area. The resettlement has been accompanied by the establishment of critical healthcare, education, cultural, tourism, industrial, and energy institutions, alongside local government bodies, all working to revitalize the region and restore its infrastructure.

This phase of the Great Return is part of Azerbaijan’s broader strategy to rehabilitate and repopulate the areas liberated from occupation, bringing stability and prosperity back to these historically significant lands.