Azerbaijan’s history spans millennia, and throughout this long historical journey, the struggle for freedom, heroism, love of the homeland and land, and traditions of statehood have always held a prominent place. Among the remarkable days etched into our national memory, Laçın City Day holds particular significance. The establishment of this day was formalized by a Decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on August 25, 2023. Since then, August 26 has been celebrated every year as Laçın City Day with great pride and honor.

 

Nestled in the mountains of Karabakh, this region is distinguished by its natural beauty, fertile lands, and rich flora and fauna. Laçın is important not only from geographical and historical perspectives but also from a strategic standpoint. In the final years of the second decade of the 20th century and the early 1990s, the Laçın region fell victim to the aggressive policy and ethnic cleansing carried out by Armenian nationalists. In May 1992, the armed forces of Armenia and separatist criminal elements occupied Laçın. This was one of the gravest tragedies in Azerbaijan’s history. Thousands of civilians were forcibly displaced from their homes. Dozens of villages and settlements were razed to the ground. Mosques, cemeteries, and historical monuments were destroyed. Armenia grossly violated international law by pursuing a policy of ethnic cleansing in Laçın. As a result of the occupation, the region’s natural resources were also plundered. Mountain and forest areas, mineral resources, and rare tree species were destroyed.

In 2020 and 2023, the Azerbaijani people restored historical justice. During the 44-day Patriotic War, which began on September 27, and the one-day anti-terror measures conducted in September 2023, the victorious Azerbaijani Army, under the outstanding leadership, foresight, and military command of President Ilham Aliyev, and thanks to the unparalleled heroism of our martyrs, veterans, soldiers, and officers, defeated the enemy and liberated Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. As a result of the victory achieved in the Patriotic War, under the terms of the Trilateral Statement, Laçın District was handed over to Azerbaijan on December 1, 2020. On August 26, 2022, Laçın city, as well as the villages of Zabukh and Sus, were brought under Azerbaijan’s control.

Following the liberation of Laçın, restoration and reconstruction efforts have been progressing rapidly. The Azerbaijani state is committed to rebuilding the region in accordance with modern standards. At the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, Laçın, as well as the Karabakh region as a whole, has been declared a green energy zone. Solar and wind power plants are being constructed here. This will not only help preserve the ecological balance but also make a major contribution to the region’s economic development. The Master Plan for Laçın city has been approved, while modern roads, bridges, electricity lines, and telecommunications and internet networks have been established. Laçın International Airport, along with new highways and railway lines, will transform the district into a strategic logistics hub.