Renewed hostilities have no affect on dwelling settlements in Azerbaijani Kelbadjar District

The forced migrants have not yet returned to the border villages of the Kelbadjar District, which came under Azerbaijan's control after the 2020 war; therefore, the hostilities there are no threat for civilians. This was stated by Avaz Gasanov, the head of the Society for Humanitarian Studies, and Bakhruz Bairamov, a member of the Azerbaijani Bar Association.

About 30 villages of the Kelbadjar District are located along the two countries' border, but there are no people in them, Mr Gasanov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In 1993, during the first Karabakh War, the entire population left these places, and most of the dwelling settlements were destroyed, Avaz Gasanov has noted. Due to the absence of housing and infrastructure, the return of the population to these places is impossible.

In summer, beekeepers and livestock breeders returned here temporarily, Mr Gasanov has added. They live in tents or survived buildings. He believes that people will need at least three to four years to return to Kelbadjar for permanent residence.

There are no civilians in the villages bordering on Armenia, Bakhruz Bairamov, a lawyer and a native of Kelbadjar, has confirmed.

"For people to return, houses, schools, hospitals, kindergartens, enterprises, roads must be built," he has concluded.