Region Aghdam borders on Aghjabedi, Tartar, Barda, Kalbajar, Askeran, Khojavend and Fuzuli regions. The area is 1,150 sq. km; population is 186 thousand people (01.04.2013). As a region it was established on 08.08. 1930. Region Aghdam consisted of 1 city, 2 settlements (Guzanli and Acharli) and 123 villages. The villages are: Eyvazlı, Baghbanlar, İsmayilbeyli, Mughanli, Pirzadli, Saybali, Bash Guneypeye, Boyahmedli, Gizil Kengerli, Mollalar, Salahli Kengerli, Sofulu, Chemenli, Saridgali, Shukuraghali, Efetli, Hajimemmedli, Hajiturali, Hesenkhanli, İsalar, Kudurlu, Gehremanbeyli, Mammadbaghirli, Ahmedaghali, Chirakhli, Kolgishlag, Mireshelli, Alimedetli, Jinli, Aliaghali, Khachinderbetli, Kurdler, Galaychilar, Mollalar, Goytepe, Abdinli, Javahirli, Kosalar, Gulabli, Abdal, Ahmadavar, Khindiristan, Baharli, Beybabalar, Birinji Yuzbashili, Dadashli, İkinji Yuzbashili, Kelbehuseynli, Pashabeyli, Sarichoban, İmamgulubeyli, Chullu, Kengerli, Garagashli, Shirvanli, Garadaghli, Evoghlu, Rzalar, Gasimli, Gurdlar, Poladli, Shelli, Bash Gervend, Ayag Gervend, Gazanchi, Shikhlar, Giyasli, Etyeməzli, Keshtazli, Magsudlu, Chullu, Eyvazkhanbeyli, Shahbulag, Salahsəmədlər, Shishpapaglar, Talishlar, Tepemehle, Ternoyut, Tukezbanli, Melikli, Orta Gervend, Gulluja, İlkhichilar, Suma, Taghibeyli, Khatinbeyli, Khidirli, Chukhurmehle, Merzili, Nemirli, Sholtanli, Shuraabad, Tezekend, Umudlu, Novruzlu, Orta Guneypeye, Papravend, Ballar, Sarijali, Garazeynalli, Gullar, Seyidli, Bozpapaglar, Sarihajıli, Sirkhavend, Ballıgqaya, Beshirler, Garashlar, Shihbabali, Mughanli, Uchoghlan, Alibeyli, Baharli, Garapirimli, Boyukbeyli, Kichikli, Orta Gıshlag, Yeni Garalar, Mahrizli, Yusifjanli, Zəngishali, Yusifli.

Aghdam, the centre of Aghdam region is situated at a 362 km distance from Baku, 3 km away from the Gargar River, south-west of the Karabakh Plain.

Aghdam was a region with heavy, food and light industry and agriculture was developed there.

Before the occupation machine tools equipment, aerospace and communication devices, machine factory, tractor and car repair, asphalt plants, cannery, butter and cheese dairy factory, silk-worm breeding, carpet, cotton, wine-making, grain products, construction materials and animal produce factories, mechanized bake-houses, two railway stations and airport, power plants, motor vehicles maintenance stations, customer service center, the electric power station, agriculture, agricultural mechanization and electrification stations, Musical College named after U.Hajibeyov, Aghdam State Drama Theatre named after A.Hagverdiyev functioned in the city. Also, 38 collective farms and state farms, 24 construction –installation and 12 industrial enterprises, 74 schools, 105 health centers, 271 cultural centers, 67 offices, 99 clubs are under occupation.

In order to annex Nagorno Karabakh, Armenia that established its existing state in the ancient territory of Azerbaijan, involved Aghdam in the Karabakh war which broke out in February 1988 and from the very first day the greatest difficulties fell onto that region and Aghdam was the most affected the war. In the last months of 1988 ten thousands of Azerbaijanis living in Armenia, then in Nagorno Karabakh were driven out of their native lands and they took refuge just in Agdam region. Not being satisfied with the occupation of the entire Nagorno Karabakh (1992), Armenia continued its agressive policy in the regions around Nagorno Karabakh.

With the help and direct participation of some foreign countries Armenian separatist regime selected Aghdam as a target region after the occupation of Shusha, Lachin and Kalbajar. The Armenians began a large-scale agression operation to occupy this region. The agression that started from June 11, ended on July 23, 1993 with the capture of Aghdam after heavy fighting. After five-years’srtuggle Aghdam was occupied.

As a result of the military aggression continued until May 12, 1994 , the Armenians managed to occupy 8467 sq.km of the territory of Aghdam region, i.e 77.4 percent of the total area.The occupied Aghdam city and 89 villages were destroyed on unprecedented brutality and razed to the ground. Over 5 years of bloody battles for the defence of Aghdam 5897 people were killed, 3531 became invalids, 1871 children were orphaned. Thousands of people have become physically disabled, more than 126 thousand (1993) citizens of Aghdam have been displaced from their native land.

Source:

Book Karabakh Memory, Baku-2010. MHS- poligraf

Information of State Statistics Committee.