Khankendi: 27 years pass since occupation

Twenty seven years have passed since the occupation of Kerkijahan settlement, which is of significant strategic importance for Khankendi city of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding areas. Khankendi turned out fully occupied after the capture of the Kerkijahan settlement on December 28, 1991.

Defense of Kerkijahan was organized by self-defense units formed of villagers, the newly established group of military police and the National Army of Azerbaijan. 

As a result of Armenians’ attack with military vehicles and heavy weapons, those who defended Kerkijahan had to retreat. Azerbaijani families who had suffered Armenia’s attacks left Khankendi and took refuge in Aghdam, Shusha, Khojaly, and other neighboring areas of the country.

As a result of the occupation of Kerkijahan by the Armenian armed groups, 34 of 1,796 habitants of the village, including three women and two children, were killed and 150 people were wounded. Armenian troops destroyed two schools, a kindergarten, library, club, ATS, 10 shops, a hospital, 15 production facilities, etc.