SHUSHA: Azerbaijan is set to construct new residential buildings in Shusha as part of its ongoing efforts under the “Great Return” program, aiming to facilitate the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) back to their native city.

According to Trend News Agency, Tural Novruzov, Executive Director of the State Reserve Department of Shusha, announced the plans during a panel discussion at Caspian Construction Week. Novruzov detailed that the initiative is aligned with the “Great Return” program, which encompasses restoration and construction works to support the repopulation of areas reclaimed from Armenian control in 2020. He emphasized that the resettlement process would persist, highlighting the government’s commitment to restoring Shusha’s demographic and cultural landscape.

Novruzov also mentioned ongoing efforts to restore numerous monuments in the city, underscoring the broader initiative to revive Shusha’s historical and cultural identity. Since the launch of the “Great Return” program, 8
23 individuals from 220 families have already been relocated to permanent housing in Shusha, marking significant progress in the government’s repatriation efforts.

The return of IDPs to Shusha comes after decades of displacement following the Armenian occupation and massacres in 1992, which forced survivors into various forms of temporary accommodation throughout the country. The construction of new residential houses in Shusha represents a critical step towards restoring normalcy and stability for many of its natives.