SHUSHA: A third group of Azerbaijanis hailing from Georgia completed a visit to the cities of Shusha and Aghdam, as part of a trip to regions of Azerbaijan that were recently liberated from occupation. The journey provided a firsthand look at the extensive damage these areas suffered during the conflict and the ongoing restoration efforts.

According to Trend News Agency, the group’s journey commenced from Khankendi and included a morning tour of Shusha. Visitors observed busts of prominent Azerbaijani cultural figures such as Natavan, Bulbul, and Uzeyir Hajibeyli in the city center, which had been targeted during the occupation. The tour also highlighted the significant damage inflicted on historical sites, mosques, and monuments over three decades. Restoration efforts are underway to revive these landmarks, including the poetess Khurshidbanu Natavan’s residence, the Khan Gizi Bulagi Spring, the fortress walls, Yukhari Govhar Agha Mosque, and Isa Bulagi Spring. The group also took in the views from the Jidir
-duzu Plain.

In the afternoon, the group visited Aghdam district, where they learned about the destruction inflicted on the mosque built between 1868 and 1870. During the occupation, the mosque was used for livestock by Armenian forces. Since the liberation, the Azerbaijani government has undertaken repairs. Visitors were also shown the ruins of buildings along Aghdam’s main street, evidence of the city’s decimation during the occupation. Extensive construction efforts are underway to rebuild Aghdam, which was once a major urban center in the Karabakh region and Azerbaijan at large. Plans are in place to facilitate the return of residents to the area.

The visit marked the conclusion of a six-day tour involving Azerbaijani individuals from Georgia, organized into three groups, to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan.