The termination of the USSR in 1991 was followed with several ethnic conflicts and war escalations within its former borderline. At the result, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which has been one of the most controversial issues of the modern history of the South Caucasus that stemming from territorial claims of Armenia on historical Azerbaijani lands, broke out the hot war from 1991 to 1994. The war repercussion was daunting for Azerbaijan as the military operations were conducted with disproportionate capacities, and obvious support of the armed forces of the former USSR backed Armenians to violate Azerbaijani territorial integration by the occupation of 20% of its lands. Military aggressions did not only mean a territorial loss for Azerbaijan, but also devastated its cultural heritage, caused the refugee and IDP crisis, and traced a dreadful impact on the country’s economy.
Armenian ferocity reached at its peak in Khojaly, which was a significant settlement centre of the former Nagorno-Karabakh region. Therefore, the occupation of the city was carried out through several intended plans, such as, to facilitate further occupation and open the route to the Agdam, Shusha, Khankendi, Askeran and frighten Azerbaijanis not only militarily, but also civil population to threaten their intention to resist against Armenians. These facts prove that occupation of Khojaly and the mass killing of civilians was a deliberative act.
After sighing the ceasefire agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in May 1994, there were various peace proposals for the settlement of the dispute. Since the involvement of the Minsk Group in the negotiation process, the parties to the conflict held great hopes in this negotiating institute, as it consists of not only the regional countries, such as Russia and Turkey, but also European and North American countries, which inspired the belief that such a broad representation would end the conflict peacefully. However, Armenian side never put forward a constructive approach for the resolution of the conflict peacefully and consistently violated the ceasefire agreement of 1994 while targeting civilians along the borderlines.
Armenian ferocities and arbitrariness reached at its peak in last two years, which was significantly blocking peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Thus, the more aggressive and intractable action of the Armenian government, like an intention to cement the acquisitions of those occupied territories beyond Nagorno-Karabakh permanently, repudiation of the “Basic Principles” that had been initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group and accepted both parties to the conflict, planning to move the administrative center of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from Khankendi to Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, illegal settlement of Armenians from different part of the world in the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan, as well as changing the toponyms and falsification of the historical monuments triggered the tension between the sides.
In addition to all, at a rally in Khankendi on August 5, 2019, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared, “Artsakh is Armenia, and that’s it”. This destroyed the possibility of serious further negotiation. Furthermore, Armenian Defence Minister David Tonoyan said in New York in March 2020 that the policy “new war for new territories” replaced that of “territory for peace”, still further undermining any peaceful resolution. However, the attack to Tovuz region in the summer of 2020 that is situated out of the conflicting zone and violating internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan since that time became the last straw to break the status-quo in the region. Targeting oil and gas export pipelines passing through Tovuz district was threatening European energy security. In this regard, a fragile ceasefire was established, although frequently broken in subsequent months by Armenia.
Immediately after the liberation of Azerbaijan’s cultural capital, Shusha, by the Glorious Azerbaijani Army, a Trilateral Statement was signed between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia on November 10, 2020. According to this agreement, the remaining occupied territories were returned to Azerbaijan’s control by December 1, thereby restoring Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The 44-day war ended the long-standing occupation of Khojaly and all other occupied Azerbaijani territories, paving the way for the great return of Khojaly residents and internally displaced persons to their homeland.
On July 7, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev signed the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the new division of economic regions in the Republic of Azerbaijan aimed at reorganizing economic regions. According to the decree, the city of Khankendi and the districts of Aghjabadi, Aghdam, Barda, Fuzuli, Khojaly, Khojavend, Shusha, and Terter were incorporated into the Karabakh economic region.
As a result of the anti-terror operation conducted on September 19–20, 2023, the existence of the illegal separatist regime in Karabakh was brought to an end, and Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty over its internationally recognized territories. On October 15, 2023, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, raised the national flag of Azerbaijan in the city of Khojaly.
On May 28, 2024, Independence Day, following President Ilham Aliyev’s directive, the first resettlement convoy to Khojaly was dispatched, and Khojaly residents, who returned to their native lands after 32 years, experienced the joy of this historic moment.
It should be noted that after its liberation, large-scale restoration and reconstruction work was carried out in Khojaly. New private houses, cottages and residential buildings were built in the city, which was provided with modern infrastructure, and communication lines were reconstructed. Numerous schools, kindergartens, parks, sports complexes, and other residential facilities were put into operation for the convenience of residents.
Today, Khojaly is not only being rebuilt but is also transforming into a prosperous and thriving city for future generations. Former internally displaced persons are returning to their homeland to live and create forever.