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Chingiz Ganizade: "... our lands were completely liberated from the occupation of Armenia"

Chingiz Ganizade: "... our lands were completely liberated from the occupation of Armenia"

"Thanks to the political foresight and determination of President Ilham Aliyev, our lands were completely liberated from the occupation of Armenia."

Chairman of the Democracy and Human Rights Committee, Doctor of Philosophy in Law Chingiz Ganizade said this in his statement to AZERTAC.

Fakt Yoxla examined whether this claim was true.

According to the Alma-Ata Declaration signed on December 21, 1991, all allied countries accepted the inviolability of borders within the framework of the existing borders between the republics of the USSR. This declaration, signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan, shows that Armenia has accepted that the territories of Azerbaijan during the Soviet period belong to Azerbaijan. However, the invasion factor continued. Three years ago, Fakt Yoxla came to the conclusion that according to the criteria of the Hague Convention, the occupied districts, cities, and villages constituted 14% of the territories of Azerbaijan. 

In the information published by the International Crisis Group in 2005, it is noted that in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, forces reinforced with conscripts from this region and mercenaries from Armenia occupied 13.4% (11,722 square kilometers) of Azerbaijani lands. That territory included 92.5% of the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO), five districts around Nagorno-Karabakh, and a large part of two more districts.

In detail, those territories included Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, Aghdam, Kalbajar, Lachin, Khojaly, Shusha, and Khankendi. Besides, 7 villages of Gazakh (Baghanis Ayrim, Kheyrimli, Ashagi Askipara, Barkhudarli, Sofulu, Gizilhajili, Yukhari Askipara), and Karki village of Nakhchivan are also occupied territories.

After the Second Karabakh War, which began on September 27, 2020, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Gubadli districts, as well as some villages of Khojaly and Khojavand districts and Shusha city were liberated from occupation. However, other territories of Khojaly, Khojavand, and Khankendi city remained under the control of the separatist "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic".

On November 9, 2020, the war ended with a Tripartite Statement signed between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia. The parties have remained in their positions since the entry into force of the agreement, that is, on November 10, 2020, at 00:00 Moscow time. According to Paragraph II of the statement, on November 20, 2020, the Armenian Armed Forces left Aghdam and the Azerbaijani Army entered the district.

According to Paragraph VI of the statement, although it was decided to hand over Kalbajar district by November 15, the Armenian side asked for time and this period was extended until November 25. As a result, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces entered the district on November 25, 2020. Again, based on that paragraph, Lachin district (except Lachin city and some villages) came under the control of Azerbaijan on December 1, 2020. On August 26, 2022, the Azerbaijani Army entered Lachin city as a result of the construction of the alternative road to the Lachin Corridor and putting it into use. According to the statement, the Lachin Corridor, which is 5 km wide and 40-50 km long, was put under the control of Russian peacekeepers.

However, the said statement does not include information about the return of other territories belonging to the former Nagorno-Karabakh – Khankendi and Aghdara cities, as well as a large part of Khojaly and Khojavand - to the Azerbaijani side. In other words, the Republic of Azerbaijan has not yet been able to restore its power in these areas. These areas, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is deployed, are under the control of the separatist regime.

Paragraph IV of the tripartite statement states that the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation is being deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian Armed Forces. However, although the other paragraphs of the statement mentioned the return of Aghdam, Kalbajar, and Lachin to the Azerbaijani side on the mentioned date, these paragraphs did not specify which areas and when the Armenian Armed Forces would be withdrawn.

Thus, although Hadrut settlement and 34 villages of Khojavand district, which consists of 1 city, 2 settlements, and 81 villages, were liberated from occupation, the center of the district - Khojavand city, 47 villages, and 1 settlement (Girmizi Bazar) - is not under the control of Azerbaijan.

6 villages of Khojaly district, consisting of 1 city, 1 settlement (Asgaran), and 49 villages, were liberated from occupation. However, Khojaly city, Asgaran settlement, and 43 villages are under the control of separatists.

Furthermore, Aghdara city and a number of villages belonging to the former Aghdara district, 7 villages of Gazakh district, and 1 village of Nakhchivan AR are also outside the control of the Azerbaijani authorities.

In short, the lands of Azerbaijan have not been completely liberated from occupation.

Fakt Yoxla concludes that Chingiz Ganizade's claim is False.

False
  • 26 January, 2023
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