Social media users debated the return of Azerbaijani families to Karabakh.
For Azerbaijanis to return to Karabakh, demining and the construction of houses and infrastructure are necessary, Azerbaijani commentators pointed out, explaining the slow pace of resettlement. At the same time, they called this a restoration of justice. Armenian users countered that many of the settlements in question were historically Armenian.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on February 19, the first group of 154 Azerbaijani displaced persons (38 families) returned to the village of Khanabad in the Khojaly region. On March 11, 184 members of Azerbaijani families who left during the Karabakh conflict returned to the village of Girmizi Bazar and the village of Khanabad. In total, more than 30,000 Azerbaijanis from 7,541 families have returned to the cities and villages of Karabakh.
Azerbaijanis from Karabakh settlements were forced to flee their homes after the start of the First Karabakh War. The return of displaced persons began after Azerbaijan took control of these territories. By December 24, 2025, 6,206 families (24,729 people) had returned to 31 settlements in the former Karabakh conflict zone.
A heated discussion has erupted in the Facebook comments section* under the news about the return of Azerbaijani families to Karabakh. Social media users are debating the right to territory, the interpretation of history, and the nature of the resettlement, and the discussion quickly devolves into mutual accusations and emotional assessments. A post about returning to Karabakh has garnered over 39,000 views and 749 comments on the Caucasian Knot* Facebook page, which has 161,000 subscribers.
Azerbaijani users: the return of refugees and the restoration of justice
According to Facebook* users, the return of Azerbaijani families to Karabakh settlements is a restoration of historical justice after the events of the 1990s. Commenters believe that many Azerbaijanis were forced to flee their homes during the first Karabakh war and are now returning to the territories they consider home. Readers point out that the return process is gradual, as mine clearance and the restoration of destroyed infrastructure are required. Some users also emphasize that the return of residents became possible after Azerbaijan regained control over these territories.
"We are returning to our lands of Karabakh and building new homes there," wrote Mubariz Kerimov.
"Azerbaijan has returned internationally recognized territories," stated Akif Abbasov.
"The owners are returning home," said Elya Mammadova.
According to social media users, the current return of Azerbaijanis is connected not only to political decisions but also to a large-scale restoration program for the region. Commentators note that many settlements were destroyed during the years of conflict and require virtually complete reconstruction. Readers point out that the resettlement process is gradual, as housing and infrastructure must be built.
"You don't think everyone can be returned at once—first, the area needs to be cleared of mines," wrote Elmar Tagi.
"Everything is being built almost from scratch," said Rafael Kafarov.
"The state builds houses for people and returns them back," said Parvana Mirzayeva.
In October 2022, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that demining the former Karabakh conflict zone would take 30 years. He estimated the cost at $25 billion. In August 2023, Azerbaijani public organizations appealed to the UN and the European Union to help resolve the problem of mine clearance in the country's territories. In May 2024, the European Union, which had allocated €10 million to Azerbaijan for mine clearance since 2020, agreed to increase its financial assistance to Baku for mine clearance in the former Karabakh conflict zone to €14 million.
Facebook* users reject accusations of ethnic cleansing, claiming that Armenian residents left the region voluntarily. Commentators claim that Armenians had the opportunity to stay and obtain Azerbaijani citizenship, but many chose to leave. According to readers, numerous videos and testimonies confirm that the departure did not involve forced expulsion.
"The Armenians left Karabakh voluntarily, refusing to accept Azerbaijani citizenship," wrote Bolat Smağūlov.
"You left voluntarily, it was all recorded on video," stated Anver Dadashev.
"You left Karabakh voluntarily so you could later talk about ethnic cleansing," said Emin Manafov.
Social media users also recall the events of the 1990s, claiming that Azerbaijanis fled their homes en masse amid violence and fighting. Commentators emphasize that hundreds of thousands of people were forced to become refugees and lived in temporary housing for many decades. Readers believe that the current return marks the culmination of a long process of restoring these people's rights.
"Azerbaijanis fled in the snow with their children in winter," wrote Rena Quliyeva.
"About 300,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia," stated Hüseynağa Hüseynov.
"In the 1990s, it was also worth remembering the conventions," wrote Mehdi Gasimov.
Some Facebook* users also believe that the region's restoration should be accompanied by economic and infrastructure development. Commentators believe the return of residents will help revitalize the cities and villages of Karabakh. Readers are noting the construction of new homes, universities, and the creation of economic zones.
"Tens of thousands of people already live in the Karabakh economic zone," stated Guseyn Samedzade.
"We are standing in line to move there," wrote Gabiba Vagabova.
"The region will prosper," believes Naina Omar.
Armenian users: Doubts about resettlement and disputes over territorial ownership
According to Facebook* users representing the Armenian point of view, the return of Azerbaijani families to Karabakh raises serious doubts and is perceived as resettlement to territories previously inhabited by the Armenian population. Commentators believe that many of the settlements in question were historically Armenian. Readers note that the resettlement process is taking place against the backdrop of the departure of the region's Armenian residents.
"Azerbaijanis have never lived in Karmir Shuka," wrote Grigoryan Arega.
"They have never lived in Krasny Bazar," stated Hayk Mkrtchyan.
"This was previously an Armenian settlement," said Samvel Meliksetyan.
Gyrmyzi Bazar is the Azerbaijani name for the village of Krasny Bazar (the Armenian toponym is Karmir Shuka), which belonged to the Martuni region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Martuni is the Armenian name for Khojavend). In February 2020, the village's residents' homes came under fire from Azerbaijani forces, causing fears among residents about taking their children to kindergarten. Residents complained that their homes were damaged as a result of the shelling. The shelling keeps people in constant fear, and residents' livestock is systematically stolen, villagers said.
According to social media users, resettling these territories after the exodus of Armenians could be considered a violation of international norms. Commentators argue that such actions could be considered a consequence of ethnic cleansing. Readers also cite international law and humanitarian conventions.
"Resettlement of settlements after ethnic cleansing is a war crime," wrote Simon Garibyan.
"This is displacement, not return," declared Ashot Chobanyan.
"They are trying to build their own happiness on the misfortune of others," said Martin Poghosyan.
Some Facebook* users doubt the scale of the return of displaced persons. Commenters believe the official figures may be exaggerated, and some people are resettling there through government support programs. Readers also speculate that many displaced persons may not stay in the region for long.
"I don't believe these numbers," wrote Nina Davidyan. "People are being sent there for benefits," she said.
"The benefits will run out - people will leave," the user believes.
Some commentators express the belief that the situation around Karabakh could change again in the future. According to social media users, the conflict is not yet over and the region's status remains a subject of debate. Readers write that the return of Azerbaijanis could be temporary.
"They will leave just as they came," wrote Svetlana Hambardzumyan.
"Armenians will definitely return to Artsakh," stated Nina Davidyan.
"It's temporary," believes Eduard Khachaturov.
Other Facebook* users speak of the risks for ordinary people who could find themselves in a zone of new tension. Commentators believe that resettlement in the region without a final political settlement could lead to new conflicts. Readers emphasize that the main problem remains the lack of sustainable peace.
"Don't create a pretext for future wars," wrote Karen Mardanyan.
"People there may not be safe," said Georgi Avakyan.
"First, we need real peace," said Stella Shaburova.
How many refugees have fled Karabakh?
A 2009 UNHCR report indicated that at the time of the 1994 ceasefire, Azerbaijan hosted approximately 250,000 Azerbaijani refugees from Armenia and 50,000 Meskhetian Turks from Central Asia. The number of internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions has exceeded 600,000. According to further assurances from the Azerbaijani authorities, 1 million naturalized refugees and internally displaced persons remain in the country, the vast majority of whom were displaced in the early 1990s.
The UN estimated the number of Armenian refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh at over 100,000 as of October 1, 2023. By October 7, 2023, 100,632 internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh had arrived in Armenia. By early September 2024, 14 Armenians remained in the region; one of the last Armenian residents of Karabakh, 70-year-old Vera Aghasyan, died in late October 2024. On January 3, the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Arsen Torosyan, reported that 11 people who remained in Nagorno-Karabakh after the exodus of the population there - 10 ethnic Armenians and one Russian with Armenian citizenship - have been resettled to Armenia.