Fuzuli: the road from victory to recovery

On 17 October 2020, the Azerbaijani Army liberated the city of Fuzuli and several surrounding villages, ending more than 27 years of occupation that began on 23 August 1993. Deputy Sevil Mikayilova told Trend, as reported by Day.Az, that the priority now is turning the victory into sustainable development, rebuilding the destroyed city and enabling residents to resettle.

Mikayilova said the district's infrastructure, housing and roads were badly damaged during the occupation. A master plan for the city's development to 2040 was approved on 18 March 2023, and Fuzuli International Airport opened in October 2021. Resettlement of former displaced people began on 18 August 2023; by 1 October 2026, 827 families, or 3,153 people, had been relocated.

She stressed that lasting return also requires jobs, schools and health services. Uzbekistan built a secondary school named after Mirzo Ulugbek, and Kazakhstan created a children's creative centre named after Kurmangazy. Mine clearance remains a serious problem, with preliminary estimates of more than 100,000 mines in the district.