On September 19–20, 2023, during the local anti-terror measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Army in Karabakh, heavy blows were dealt to the remnants of the Armenian armed forces and separatist elements. The enemy could withstand the might of our powerful army for only 23 hours and 43 minutes. Suffering significant losses, the occupying forces raised a white flag and surrendered. As a result of these successfully implemented operations, Armenian separatism in Karabakh was brought to an end.
Thus, the districts of Khojavend and Aghdara (September 19–20, 2023), Khojaly (September 24, 2023), and the city of Khankendi (September 29, 2023) were cleared of Armenian separatists and returned to the homeland. The Azerbaijani state fully restored its constitutional right—its sovereignty—over these picturesque corners of our land.
In this regard, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, stated: “But even at that time, we knew—as I am sure you knew, and the entire nation knew—that our mission was not yet fully completed. For various reasons, separatists had still managed to preserve their nests on our territory, and peacekeeping forces had been deployed to the region, which gave additional encouragement and confidence to the separatists. They assumed that under such conditions, separatism would continue, and various other events occurred. But they failed to account for one thing: the will, determination, courage, and self-confidence of the Azerbaijani people and state. That is what they miscalculated. A year and a half ago, a one-day anti-terror operation rooted out separatism once and for all. The issue was resolved, and their chapter was closed.”
On November 8, 2023, a military parade dedicated to the third anniversary of the Victory in the Patriotic War was held in the city of Khankendi.