During a recent forum, Elchim Yusubov, the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Stepanakert, mentioned that the city is home to over 3,000 citizens. These individuals are a mix of state employees and those involved in various business activities. Additionally, there are currently 43 institutions operating in Khankendi, where more than 300 individuals are employed. Yusubov also shared that plans are underway to open 37 more facilities soon, with expectations of an increase in residents following the establishment of Karabakh University.
A program called the “Great Return” was introduced by Baku, aiming to resettle 34,500 families in Karabakh and “Eastern Zangezur” by 2027. The initiative includes the construction of apartments and individual residential buildings for these families. Following Azerbaijan’s military aggression in Artsakh on September 19-20, 2023, 105 thousand Artsakh Armenians sought refuge in Armenia. The current population of Armenians in Artsakh remains uncertain, with no official statistics available. The Red Cross assisted 25 individuals in establishing contact with their relatives in Armenia or other locations as of December last year.