Today marks City Day for Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend and Aghdara in Azerbaijan.

Axar.az reports that President Ilham Aliyev signed an Order on September 18, 2024, regarding the celebration of this day.

As a continuation of the Victory in the Patriotic War, the country’s sovereignty was fully restored as a result of local anti-terror measures conducted by the Azerbaijani Army on September 19–20, 2023.

According to the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, in less than a day—23 hours and 43 minutes—an area of 406 square kilometers was cleared of hostile elements and brought under the full control of the Azerbaijani Army. During the operation, enemy losses amounted to 310 killed and 614 wounded. As a result of precision strikes by the Azerbaijani Army, numerous enemy military assets were destroyed, including 8 tanks, 22 artillery pieces, 14 mortars, 3 anti-aircraft missile systems, 8 electronic warfare systems and 9 military vehicles. Furthermore, 1,731 pieces of various military equipment and 18,664 firearms were seized as trophies.

Thus, the activities of the separatist regime established on the territory of Azerbaijan were brought to an end. The remnants of the Armenian armed forces and illegal armed groups were disarmed and withdrawn from Azerbaijani territories, the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan was fully ensured, and constitutional order was restored across the entire country.

On October 15, 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev raised the State Flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the cities of Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend and Aghdara.

Taking into account that the rule of law was ensured and state sovereignty was restored across the entire territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan on September 20, 2023, President Ilham Aliyev signed an Order on September 19, 2024, “On the Establishment of State Sovereignty Day in the Republic of Azerbaijan.” Pursuant to the Order, September 20 is celebrated in Azerbaijan as State Sovereignty Day.