Six years have passed since the liberation of Zangilan city from occupation.

Axar.az recalls that Zangilan city was liberated from Armenian occupation on October 20, 2020, as a result of the Azerbaijani Army’s counteroffensive launched on September 27, 2020.

Expanding the scale of military operations that began on September 27, the Azerbaijani Army entered the territory of Zangilan District on the 24th day of the fighting. Forcing the enemy to retreat, Azerbaijani forces liberated several settlements in Zangilan District on October 20.

President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev announced the start of the liberation of settlements in Zangilan District in an address to the nation.

In his address, Aliyev announced that on October 20, the villages of Dordchinar, Kurdlar, Yukhari Abdurrahmanli, Gargabazar, Ashagi Veysalli and Yukhari Aybasanli in Fuzuli District; Safarsha, Hasangaydy, Fuganli, Imambagi, Dash Veysalli, Aghtepe and Yarahmadli in Jabrayil District; and Aghjakand, Mulkudara, Dashbashi, Guneshli (formerly known as Norashen) and Vang in Khojavend District had been liberated from occupation. The president also announced that Vang village had been renamed Chinarly.

Aliyev subsequently emphasized that the Azerbaijani Army had also entered Zangilan District and liberated settlements there. He announced the liberation of the villages of Havali, Zarnali, Mammadbayli, Hakar i, Sharifan and Mughanli, as well as Zangilan city.

The Azerbaijani Army inflicted a heavy defeat on Armenian forces in Zangilan, destroying a significant amount of their manpower and military equipment.

With the liberation of Zangilan District, the Azerbaijani Army reached the border with Armenia.

A medal titled “For the Liberation of Zangilan” was established in Azerbaijan. By a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev, military personnel who took part in the operations to liberate Zangilan District and demonstrated personal courage and bravery were awarded the medal.

By another decree signed by Aliyev, October 20 was designated as Zangilan City Day.

Zangilan District was occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces on October 29, 1993. During the occupation, Armenian forces destroyed Zangilan city and villages across the district, as well as religious, historical and cultural monuments and cemeteries.

The occupying forces also caused severe environmental damage to Zangilan’s rich natural environment. Natural deposits in the district were exploited extensively, while rare Oriental plane trees in the Basitchay State Nature Reserve were cut down and burned.

Wastewater containing concentrations of heavy metals, phenol and radioactive substances thousands of times above permissible levels from the Kajaran copper-molybdenum mine and the Kapan ore-processing plant in Armenia polluted the Okhchuchay River, which flows through Zangilan before joining the Araz River. This caused serious damage to the environment and led to the destruction of rare fish species in the river.

Armenia’s severe pollution of the Okhchuchay River is described as a major act of environmental terrorism.