AGHDAM: A group of international travelers representing 33 countries visited the city of Aghdam on Saturday as part of a broader tour of Azerbaijan’s Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur regions, APA’s Karabakh bureau reports. Led by Yves Bouvier, the Head of the Piki Reels club, the travelers witnessed the aftermath of Armenian occupation and the ongoing restoration efforts undertaken by Azerbaijan.

According to Azeri-Press news agency, the visitors explored the Alley of Martyrs in Aghdam, where they learned about the Azerbaijani children who perished during the First Karabakh War and civilians who were victims of the Khojaly genocide. The group was also informed about the extensive damage inflicted upon Aghdam by Armenian forces, which left the once-thriving city in ruins.

The delegation’s itinerary included a visit to the Imarat Complex, home to the palace of Panakhali Khan, founder of the Karabakh Khanate. The complex, along with the nearby Imarat cemetery, suffered significant vandalism during the occupation.
Restoration and archaeological work have since commenced, with the involvement of both local and international experts.

The travelers also visited Shusha, another key city in the region, where they observed the bullet-riddled monuments of notable Azerbaijani figures in the city’s central square. The visit included stops at the House-Museum of Khurshidbanu Natavan, the ‘Khan gizi’ spring, and the Shusha Fortress walls, as well as a view from the Jidir Duzu Plain.

The tour began at Fuzuli International Airport and covers several districts, including Fuzuli, Khojavand, Shusha, Khojali, Aghdam, Kalbajar, Lachin, Gubadli, Zangilan, and Jabrayil. This trip marks the eleventh visit by major international travel networks to these areas in the past four years, with over 400 travelers from more than 50 countries participating. The initiative aims to promote Azerbaijani territories liberated from occupation through ‘black tourism.’