On July 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the village of Kichik Galadarasi in the Shusha district to inspect the progress of restoration work on private homes and local infrastructure, and to meet with residents who have returned to their ancestral lands.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Aydin Karimov, the Special Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Shusha district, briefed the head of state on the reconstruction efforts undertaken in the village.
It was reported that Kichik Galadarasi consists of 66 private houses. Of these, 19 were deemed unusable, while 47 were partially damaged. Currently, 26 homes are ready for occupancy, with an additional 21 scheduled for completion next year. In the initial phase, 15 families (51 people) have already returned to the village, and 11 more families (45 people) are expected to return by the end of this year.
Significant progress has been made in developing social infrastructure. New gas and water pipelines have been installed, an artesian well has been restored, and 26 private homes have been connected to the water network. Furthermore, a transformer substation has been installed, and electrical overhead lines have been restored. To enhance the living environment, a park and a Flag Square have been established, and internal village roads have been paved.
Kichik Galadarasi, which is part of the Galadarasi village administrative district, is located 40 kilometers southwest of the Shusha city center. The village was occupied by Armenian armed forces in 1992 and was liberated in 2023 following a local anti-terror operation. Prior to the occupation, the local economy was primarily based on livestock breeding, vegetable farming, and beekeeping, with the village hosting a secondary school, kindergarten, cultural center, library, medical point, and communications office.
During his visit, President Ilham Aliyev visited the home of resident Asad Asadov before meeting with the returning villagers to discuss their needs and the ongoing development of the region.
The reconstruction of Shusha and its surrounding villages is a cornerstone of Azerbaijan's Great Return program, which aims to restore the liberated territories and facilitate the dignified return of former internally displaced persons to their homes.
