The right of return to Karabakh has become a topic of discussion on social media.
Karabakh is an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan, and the return to these lands of families who fled during the Karabakh conflict restores justice, Azerbaijani social media users noted. Parliamentary elections in Armenia may impact the prospects for the return of refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh to their homes. The settlement of Karabakh is lagging behind the stated pace, the analyst noted.
As "Caucasian Knot" reported, 29 members of Azerbaijani families who left during the Karabakh conflict have returned to five villages in the Khojaly region. They were given keys to their homes. The families were resettled in the villages of Khanabad, Badara, Ballicha, Tezebina, and Khanyurd. The resettlement of Karabakh by displaced families restores historical justice, Azerbaijani users commented on this post. Users with Armenian surnames expressed confidence that Karabakh is Armenian land, and the topic of Azerbaijani resettlement to Armenia, which has been hyped during the election campaign, is simply a fake.
Azerbaijanis from Karabakh settlements were forced to leave their homes after the start of the First Karabakh War. The return of Azerbaijani displaced persons began after Azerbaijan took control of these territories. By March 11, 2026, 7,541 families (30,261 people) had returned to 41 settlements in the former Karabakh conflict zone.
A post about the user debate on the return of Azerbaijani families to Karabakh, who fled during the Karabakh conflict, garnered 500 comments on the Caucasian Knot Facebook page*.
The discussion largely centered on the status of Karabakh, historical interpretations of the conflict, and the prospects for the population's return to the region.
Users expressed opposing opinions on Karabakh's ownership.
The discussion centered on claims that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan.
"Karabakh was, is, and will forever remain Azerbaijan!" - Fexrende Valehova believes.
"Karabakh is Azerbaijan! It was and will be!" - supported Almaz Ismayilova.
"Karabakh was and is Azerbaijan," stated Aydın Sadıxov.
Karabakh is an integral sovereign part of the Republic of Azerbaijan recognized by the UN and all states of the world.
Commentators referred to the international legal status of the region.
"Karabakh is an integral sovereign part of the Republic of Azerbaijan recognized by the UN and all states of the world," noted Emil Khankendi.
"The whole world recognizes that Karabakh is an integral part of our country," wrote Jafar Agayev..
Users with Armenian surnames expressed the opposite point of view.
"Artsakh was and will be Armenian," stated Yuliana Sargsyan.
"Artsakh is Armenia. The owners must return," opined user Խոսքի Իրավունք.
"Artsakh has always been Armenian and will remain Armenian," wrote Arega Avetisyan.
Users cited historical events as arguments.
"Armenians were resettled there in 1828. "Before that, there were very few of them," wrote Imran Abdulov.
"The Russian Tsar resettled the Armenians to Karabakh. In 1975, under the USSR, they celebrated the 150th anniversary of their resettlement to Karabakh," said Ilham Guliyev.
"Stalin, Ordzhonikidze, and Kirov decided to transfer Karabakh to the Azerbaijan SSR for the sake of peaceful coexistence. And this is a fact," wrote Boris Panasyan.
"In 1923, Khankendi was renamed Stepanakert," noted Numuna Azizova.
"The Karabakh Khanate existed. "Armenians were periodically resettled there," stated Gulnara Yusifgizi.
"Azerbaijan doesn't exist on the world map from the 1st century to the 19th century," stated Vrej M-ian.
On September 19-20, 2023, Azerbaijan conducted large-scale military operations and took control of the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which began a mass exodus of the Armenian population. By October 7, 2023, 100,632 internally displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh had arrived in Armenia, and by September 2024, only 14 Armenians remained in the region. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report, "The Beginning and End of the Unrecognized Republic of Artsakh," which provides historical background.
Commentators debated the right to return to Karabakh
Grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, and mothers who were born and raised in Karabakh returned and became refugees, and then came grandchildren born further away.
Commentators also debated who has the right to live in Karabakh after the conflict ends.
"Grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, and mothers who were born and raised in Karabakh returned and became refugees, and then came grandchildren born further away. “Now everyone has returned,” wrote Ləl Cəvahir.
“Loyal
If both Azerbaijanis and Armenians live in Karabakh, conflicts are inevitable, believes Armen Vladimirovich.
“How will these two nations be accommodated there? It will be a war, for an apartment, a house, a garden,” he wrote.
“Armenians can return to Karabakh only under the Azerbaijani flag, citizenship, and laws,” emphasized Zaur Hüseyn.
“They have no way back, they know it very well,” stated Eldaniz Mammadov.
Armenian Politicians participating in the parliamentary elections and a possible revanche.
"If Pashinyan is elected, everyone will return to their homes on both sides," noted Aleks Sander.
"The overthrow of Armenia's current leadership, the rise to power of Kremlin-controlled revanchists like Kocharyan and Tsarukyan," wrote Zaur Rzayev.
Elections to the National Assembly of Armenia will be held on June 7. According to analysts, the parties of Samvel Karapetyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and former President Robert Kocharyan will be key competitors in the elections. Samvel Karapetyan's Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".
Despite the heated debate, some participants in the discussion called for the conflict to be left in the past.
"Let's end it already. The war is over. The conflict is resolved. There is peace in the Caucasus," wrote Jony Qayıtdı.
"The topic is closed, don't worry," noted Adyl Hajiyev.
"You can argue and write whatever you want to anyone. The real essence will not change. "Karabakh is legally, officially, and recaptured Azerbaijani land," wrote Marina Guliyeva.
The pace of resettlement to Karabakh is lagging behind plans
Official, consolidated statistics on those returning to the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions—territories that include lands regained from Azerbaijan during the 2020 and 2023 hostilities—are not provided to the public, Turan Analytical Service columnist Togrul Juvarli explained to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
According to him, only current statistics on the returning population for individual settlements are published. If these data are summarized, approximately 35,000 people have already returned to approximately 45 settlements. Taking into account construction workers, seconded workers from other sectors, and law enforcement officers, approximately 80,000–85,000 people already live in the aforementioned territories.
As Juvarly noted, there are no recent official data on the number of internally displaced persons. According to the UN, over 640,000 people were internally displaced in Azerbaijan in 1993–1994 as a result of the conflict. Taking into account the country's natural population growth rate of 37% from 1994 to 2025, the number of internally displaced persons and children born to them by 2025 should have reached approximately 865,000–870,000.
"However, arithmetic does not reflect social processes. It should be taken into account that internally displaced persons created families not only within their own category, but also with representatives of other population groups. Legally, anyone with at least one parent who is an internally displaced person has the right to return and be provided with housing in the liberated territories. However, in reality, it is difficult to say how many people will wish to return. Furthermore, some internally displaced persons have migrated to Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and European countries, and there are no precise statistics on them. At the same time, those currently temporarily assigned there may remain. Those who will participate in the implementation of major infrastructure projects or want to open a business there may also go there," Juvarly said.
As part of the first phase of the "Great Return" program, the government has announced the goal of returning approximately 120,000 people by the end of 2026.
"This goal, in terms of the return of internally displaced persons, will obviously not be achieved." By the end of the year, even with the accelerated rate of return, approximately 30,000 more people will return to the region. However, in terms of the overall population of the liberated territories, by the end of 2026, including construction workers, other seconded personnel, students and faculty of Karabakh University, and security forces, approximately 115,000–120,000 people will already be living in the region. The completion of the Great Return state program is scheduled for 2040 and envisions the full return of internally displaced persons and the reintegration of the region,” Juvarly noted.
By resettling one million people to Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, an economically viable region can be created.
According to the data of the special representative of the President of Azerbaijan, Emin Huseynov, voiced at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku on May 20, 2026, another 30,000 people are planned to be resettled in Karabakh by the end of 2026. Guseynov also said that resettlement will be ensured by the commissioning of the fourth and fifth residential complexes in Aghdam, as well as the completion of the villages of Bash Garvend, Dovlatyarly, and Pirahmedli in the Fizuli region, Vesti Kavkaza reported.
More than 85,000 Azerbaijanis have already returned and are permanently residing and working in the territory of Karabakh, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku on May 18, Report reported.
According to the Maiden Tower Telegram channel, which maintains statistics on returns to Karabakh settlements, as of May 26, 2026, 34,547 These statistics do not include seconded workers in the construction, medical, and law enforcement sectors, as well as students and faculty of Karabakh University. Taking these categories into account, a total of more than 85,000 people currently live in the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions, according to the Maiden Tower channel.
"The state is investing enormous amounts of money, amounting to tens of billions, in the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions. But for the regions to become successful and self-sufficient, a total of approximately one million people must live in them. To stimulate development, it is necessary to create economic conditions for the resettlement of people, including long-term and significant tax breaks, loans on very favorable terms, subsidies, land for private ownership, and preferential rent at industrial facilities. This would facilitate the return of not only internally displaced persons, but also residents of other regions of the country, as well as Azerbaijani migrants abroad. It is precisely by resettling one million people to Karabakh and East Zangezur that an economically viable region with a labor market, consumers, and sustainable development can be created." "However, we have not yet seen a comprehensive government plan to create favorable economic conditions for living in the liberated territories," Natig Jafarli, co-founder of the Republic Research Center and head of the political council of the Republican Alternative party, said earlier.