The State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs held a commemorative event on the 26th anniversary of the occupation of Zangilan region by the Armenian armed forces.

The event was attended by officials of the State Committee, members of the Karabakh War Disabled Persons, Veterans and Martyrs' Families Public Union, intellectuals from Zangilan region.

The memory of the martyrs who died for the freedom and territorial integrity of our lands was commemorated with a minute's silence.

Pointing out Zangilan as one of the fascinating regions of Azerbaijan, Rovshan Rzayev, Chairman of the State Committee for Affairs of Refugees and IDPs, reminded the tragedies caused by Armenians to the Azerbaijani people. Referring to the factors that led to the occupation of Zangilan, the Chairman of the Committee said that socio-political, socio-economic crisis, deceleration of military construction, failure to conduct proper foreign policy in Azerbaijan on the eve of the restoration of state independence and in the following years created conditions for expansion of Armenian military aggression and occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding territories. Zangilan residents have long resisted the aggressor and selflessly defended their lands. However, after the occupation of the regional centre on October 29, 1993 following surrounding areas, Zangilan residents were forced to cross the Araz River into Iran to get out of the siege. Rovshan Rzayev expressed confidence that our territorial integrity will be ensured as a result of a well-thought-out, flexible, decisive, forward-looking policy pursued by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev.

It was emphasized that First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva always pays attention to improving the social situation of refugees and IDPs. At the same time, the participants of the event were informed about constantly implemented socially oriented projects in our country, large-scale works to improve living conditions of refugees and IDPs.

Then heads of the organizations of the Karabakh War Disabled Persons, Veterans and Martyrs' Families Public Union in the occupied regions, intellectuals from Zangilan region made speeches. They expressed deep confidence that Karabakh region, including Zangilan, would be liberated soon thanks to the unity of our people, the strength and power of our independent state, the decisive stand of President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev. 

At the end, a film about the occupation of Zangilan region was shown.