(WNAM MONITORING): Today marks Aghdam City Day in Azerbaijan, Report informs.
The celebration of this significant day on this date is related to the liberation of the city of Aghdam on November 20, 2020.
As a result of Azerbaijan’s brilliant victory in the Patriotic War, Aghdam was freed from the enemy without firing a shot.
Thus, on September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army, which prevented the provocation of the Armenian Armed Forces on the frontline, counterattacked and liberated several regions, hundreds of villages and settlements, and strategic heights from the enemy. The 44-day Patriotic War, which resulted in the hoisting of the Azerbaijani tricolor flag in the liberated cities, villages, and settlements, ended with the Victory of the Azerbaijani Army.
Since the Armenians completely mined Aghdam, the main part of the occupying troops was concentrated in this direction, and the strongest fortifications were installed there, the Azerbaijani Army did not conduct extensive military operations in this direction using military tactics. Otherwise, the Azerbaijani army could have suffered a lot of losses. It could create difficulties on the way to Victory. However, the enemy first waited for the Azerbaijani army from this direction. However, the Azerbaijani Army continued its military operations, advancing along all other areas of the contact line at that time, except for Aghdam.
The occupying Armenian forces could not withstand the irreversible attack of the Azerbaijani Army and retreated with significant losses. At the same time, thousands of enemy troops and military equipment were destroyed. The military-political leadership of Armenia, realizing the futility of resisting the Azerbaijani Army, was forced to sign a capitulation document.
Thus, following the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 10, 2020, the Aghdam district was returned to Azerbaijan on November 20. As a result, the city of Aghdam, which had been under occupation for 27 years, was completely liberated from the invaders, and on that day, units of the Azerbaijani Army entered the district and raised the tricolor flag there.
Aghdam City Day is solemnly celebrated on November 20 every year, following the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 31, 2023.
The Armenian Armed Forces occupied Aghdam on July 23, 1993. About 846 sq. km. (77.4%), of Aghdam, located in the center of Karabakh, i.e. one city and 80 villages fell into the hands of Armenians. Twenty-six out of 38 collective and state farms, 105 out of 129 healthcare facilities, 74 out of 108 schools, 199 out of 271 houses of culture, 24 construction organizations, 67 enterprises, and 14 out of 17 mosques of the district were occupied. The city of Aghdam, its numerous historical monuments, cultural and architectural sites were savagely destroyed by the enemy. Aghdam gave 6,000 martyrs in battles with the enemy; 16 of them are National Heroes of Azerbaijan.
