26 years since occupation of Fizuli and Jabrail districts of Azerbaijan

Today is the 26th anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijan's districts of Fizuli and Jabrail by the Armenian armed forces. On August 23, 1993, 51 villages and center of the Fizuli district were seized by the Armenians, more than 55,000 inhabitants left their native lands.

Fizuli district. Garghabazar Caravanserai (1681)

Fizuli district is located on the territory from the southeastern slopes of Karabakh mountain range to the Araz River, on the border of Jabrayil, Aghjabadi, Beylagan and also with Iran, where the border runs along the Araz River. The territory of the Fizuli district is 1386 sq km and the population is approximately 105,000 people. Some 13 settlements and 20 villages are located on the region's territory freed from the occupation. Twelve of the settlements are constructed after release, and the families of IDPs have been temporarily placed there.

Beginning from 1988, the Fizuli region is a subject to the constant attacks of the Armenians. As a result of occupation, more than 1100 residents of Fizuli became martyrs, 113 were captured and 1450 people received a disability.

One of the ancient Karabakh mosques in the village of Garghabazar, Fizuli region

The Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry's operations section supervising the devastating effects to the environment and natural resources in Azerbaijan's occupied territories has identified a number of facts of destruction of natural resources by Armenians in the Fizuli region in the occupation period. They cut down all the trees in the Dovlatyarli village located in a forest zone, destroyed green spaces along the roads in the Gochahmadli and Yaglivand villages. More than 35 000 ha of territory were burnt by the Armenians.

Mirali mausoleum in the Fizuli district (14th century)

As a result the occupation of the Jabrail region, which territory is 1050 sq km, 72 secondary school buildings, eight hospitals, five mosques, two museums, 129 historical monuments and 149 cultural centers left in the occupation. Some 61,100 IDPs from the Jabrail region settled in more than 2000 habitable points in 58 regions of Azerbaijan.

According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Armenia, grossly violating the obligations assumed under the Geneva Conventions, continues to commit such unlawful acts as the change of geographical names in Fuzuli and Jabrayil districts, the looting of property there and the burning of territories. Especially in the Jabrayil district, illegal economic activities in agriculture are conducted and attempts are made to settle the persons of Armenian origin, including Armenians from Syria. 

In April 2016, the Azerbaijani army managed to occupy the Lyalya-tepe strategic height, located near the Fuzuli district, which allows controlling a large territory.  And now Jojug Marjanly is being recovered. At the first stage, 50 houses, a school, a mosque were built. A road was built from Horadiz to Jojug Marjanli. At the next stage, 100 houses, medical institutions, a post office building and a kindergarten were built.

Life has already returned to Jojug Marjanli, and all Azerbaijani IDPs believe that other villages and regions of Azerbaijan will be liberated eventually and they will return to the native lands.