Azerbaijan Restores Cultural Heritage in Liberated Karabakh Regions

In the territories of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur that were liberated in the 2020 war, Azerbaijan is carrying out reconstruction that goes beyond housing to revive the country's historic and cultural legacy. Deputy Minister of Culture Farid Jəfərov said that more than 700 cultural monuments were destroyed during the occupation, noting, "700-dən artıq tarixi və mədəniyyət abidəsi dağıdılıb." He emphasized that the great return is not only people moving back to their homes but also the restoration of social‑cultural life and historical memory.

The restoration effort is a priority of President Ilham Aliyev’s administration and is coordinated by First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture. Projects include the Xarıbülbül International Music Festival, Vaqif Poetry Days and other cultural events aimed at reviving the region’s historic environment. Azerbaijan’s rich intangible heritage is recognized by UNESCO, placing the country among the top six worldwide for the number of listed elements.

These initiatives seek to preserve and promote Azerbaijan’s cultural identity both domestically and internationally.