Under the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan launched the first phase of the relocation process to the city and village of Khojavand on February 20, The resettling families previously temporarily resided in various regions of the republic — mainly in dormitories, sanatoriums, and administrative buildings. During this phase, 50 families, comprising 194 individuals, were resettled in Khojavand city, while 20 families, totaling 94 people, were relocated to Khojavand village as part of the ongoing "Great Return" programme.

The residents returning to their native homeland expressed their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for the comprehensive state care provided to them. They also thanked the brave Azerbaijani Army, our heroic soldiers and officers who liberated our lands from occupation, and prayed for mercy for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on this path.