Samir Nuriyev: Approximately 85 thousand people live in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan

In the territories of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation, approximately 85 thousand people are living, working, and receiving education in more than 40 settlements as of May 1, 2026.

As reported by BAKU.WS, this is stated in an article by the Head of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, Samir Nuriyev, dedicated to the 103rd anniversary of the birth of national leader Heydar Aliyev.

It is noted that within the framework of the process of restoring the territories liberated from occupation and the "Great Return" program, master plans for eight cities, detailed plans for three cities, and urban planning justifications for 101 settlements, including villages and towns, have been approved.

"Three modern airports have been built, hundreds of kilometers of automobile and railway roads have been laid, hundreds of bridges, dozens of tunnels and viaducts have been constructed. Large-scale projects are being implemented in the fields of electric power, water supply, as well as in social and humanitarian areas," S. Nuriyev emphasized.

The Head of the Presidential Administration also pointed out that the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work being carried out in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions, as well as the application of new architectural concepts, reflect the current stage of the outlined strategic course.

"The large-scale construction and restoration work in these territories, systematic urbanization, creation of sustainable infrastructure, and application of ecological approaches provide grounds to speak of the formation of an Azerbaijani model of urban development in the post-conflict period. The new model prevents the risk of chaotic development, which in international practice is one of the main problems of territorial restoration after conflicts, and brings to the forefront an integrated approach of long-term planning. While many countries around the world today face problems of spontaneous construction and shortage of living spaces, Azerbaijan demonstrates the ability to create a planned, functional, and livable environment even in territories that were once completely destroyed. This can already be regarded not only as a national success but also as an illustrative experience comparable on an international scale," the article states.