Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

October 29 marks the 24th anniversary of the occupation of Azerbaijan’s Zangilan region by Armenian armed forces.

Like other occupied regions of Azerbaijan, Zangilan fell victim to betrayal during these tragic years for Azerbaijan. Zangilan, which was the last region of Azerbaijan to be occupied by Armenian invasion troops, didn't bow down to the enemy from 1988 until November 1993 and resisted attacks, losing hundreds of residents in the fierce fighting.

Zangilan, having a 157 mile border with Armenia, had a significant place in the gradual increase in tensions in the region from 1988 at the start of Armenia’s open hostile actions aimed at claiming Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region.

After the occupation of the neighboring Jabrayil and Gubadli regions, Zangilan was in complete blockade. The supply of electricity and water to the region stopped. On the last week, Zangilan was completely surrounded by the enemy forces.

Armenian Armed Forces surrounded the region from three sides and exposed all settlements of the region to continuous shelling, inflicting new destruction and casualties.

There was no strength to resist it longer and people of Zangilan including elderly, women and men gathered at the Araz River to flee to the Iranian territory. They found a way out by crossing the Araz River to get to Iranian territory. Otherwise, they could have been subjected to horrors similar to those that the residents of Khojaly suffered in February 1992.

In the unequal armed struggle against the Armenian aggressors, Zangilan lost 188 martyrs. So far, the region's 44 residents are among those missing in the aftermath of the bitter conflict with Armenia. Moreover, 110 residents of the region have become disabled and about 200 children have become orphaned.

Apart from being a territory with enormous amounts of natural beauty, Zangilan is considered one of the most ancient settlements in Azerbaijan.

Prior to the invasion 35,000 people lived in the Zangilan region, which covers an area of 707 sq. km. The region's economy was based on agriculture, including winegrowing, tobacco growing and livestock breeding.

The region, which included a city, a settlement and 83 villages, had 9 preschool institutions, 19 primary and 15 secondary schools, one vocational school, one music school, 35 libraries, eight cultural centers, 23 club-houses and 22 film projector facilities.

The largest plane forest in Europe was also located in the region. Unfortunately, the Armenians are now cutting down these plane trees and selling them to foreign countries. Molybdenum, marble, gold, granite and other mineral resources are also being plundered by the Armenians from the region.

There are reports that the Basitcay State Nature Reserve, established in 1974 in Zangilan, is in a deplorable state. The Armenians were reported to have cut down its valuable trees and use them in the furniture industry. As a result of the arsons committed by the Armenians, a great part of the region's territory has burnt down, and valuable trees and preserves have been destroyed.

Zangilan's territory is also rich in archaeological and architectural monuments, the largest of which is the ruins of a medieval city known as Shahri Sharifam. Unfortunately, after the occupation, the Armenians plundered or falsified the samples of the region's ancient historical monuments.

After Zangilan's occupation, more than 35,000 local residents had to be settled in 52 settlements across the country.

Zangilan's residents, who were ousted from their homes, are looking forward to liberation of their native lands from the Armenian occupation.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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