Along the Shusha-Aghdam highway, traces of the tragedy in Aghdam, occupied in 1993, are clearly visible. After the occupation, foreign publications not in vain called this place “Hiroshima of the Caucasus” or “City of Spirits “.
In November 2020, after the liberation of the occupation, massive demining and construction work began in the region. Reconstruction of Aghdam-Asgaran-Khojali-Khankendi road is one such project…
“Caspian” The newspaper published an article on the subject.
Agdam’s new life
“As soon as the territory of Asgara ends, the territory of Aghdam begins. This territory begins at the Karagaci cemetery. There were several historical tombs and tombs there. All the people of the city of Aghdam and the adjacent villages were buried in that cemetery “said Saadat, our traveling companion and author of the television project “Aghdam and I.” Mammadova provides information during visits of participants of the seminar “The factor of religion in the ideological struggle: expectations of the media”, organized by the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations in Shusha.
“During the fierce battles, the historic cemetery was a direct line of contact, so no one could bury their loved ones there. The Armenians collected expensive marble stones from the cemetery, which has an area of about 60 hectares. The tombstones are still are in place. People have already found many graves and have written on them the identity of their relatives, including their dates of birth and death.
S. Mammadova shows the way to the village of Shelli: “Look, the Mantar mountain has been excavated, the stone and lime from there are used in the construction of Aghdam…”
As we move forward, we pass by the ruins of the building of the “champagne factory”, famous as port wine “Aghdam”, several large houses reflecting the historical architecture of Karabakh, conventionally called “gentlemen’s houses” and other destroyed houses by the Armenians on the territory of the village of Ahmadavar.
Behind the arches of the Aghdam Drama Theater you can see the buildings of school number 1 and the kindergarten. We passed the temporary camp of the President’s Special Delegation, the Congress building and the Aghdam hotel, and arrived at the Juma Mosque…
Property of Panahali Khan
Our way is towards the Aghdam building complex, which has just opened to visitors. On September 19, the president Ilham Aliyev opened the complex after restoration.
This historical-architectural monument, one of the first properties of the Khan dynasty, was built in the 18th century. The palace is called “Panahali Khan Mansion” because it has the features of a luxury residence. In the complex of buildings are the tomb of Mehdigulu Khan, the last ruler of Karabakh, as well as the tomb of Khurshidbanu Nateva, the daughter of the Khan, a prominent poet. Other notable figures, descendants of the Karabakh khans, were buried in the cemetery.
After the occupation of the city of Aghdam, like other historical, cultural and religious monuments, the building of Panahali Khan was vandalized by the Armenians. The tomb of Ibrahimkhalil Khan and the tombstone of Khurshidbanu Nateva were also destroyed.
“My grandfather was born in this neighborhood in 1927. He did not tell us about the previous form of the building, but rather my aunts told me,” continues S. Mammadova: “It is said that the foundation of the building was laid by Panahali Khan in the middle of the second dome there is a majestic The male skeleton is believed to be of Panah Khan, but the news that Panah Khan was buried there or in Karbala is of Mehdigulu Khan, which has been confirmed from all the tombs in the building, dated to. 1321. To find the oldest tombs, excavations were carried out two meters deep and skeletons were found.
They buried 19 graves from the site, which currently functions as a cafeteria, on the other side, near the fence, under the name of resettlement graves. “This shows once again that this area is an ancient settlement and cemetery.”
The journalist says that he witnessed the state of destruction of the building during filming: “After restoration, historical monuments of a certain period, collected in the territory of Aghdam, were collected in the Museum of History and Rural Studies. Some of They have disappeared, and some of them were gathered in a circle in front of the vaulted hall. After the liberation of the building, at first When we got there, they had broken the statue of Natava, there was a baby’s pacifier and some of the tombstones were gone. destroyed and were tied to the wall.
Restoration of the building from time to time.
“In 1951, the building was assigned as a stadium to the “Garabaj” football club. Although the restoration of the building began in 1969-70, the restoration work remained unfinished. During the years when Sadiq Murtuzayev was party secretary of the Aghdam district It experienced a period of revival and it was decided to also repair the building for hosting football matches. In 1965, the territory received reserve status.
After the restoration of the 80s, the football club matches “Natevan Girls’ Day” and “Karabakh” were held in the Emirate.
Research work is ongoing.
In accordance with the instructions of the head of the country, in 2023-24 restoration and archaeological research work began in the Agdam building complex with the participation of local and foreign experts. “Currently, archaeological research work continues in the second stage of the historic cemetery located in an area of 6,000 square meters on the territory of the complex. As a result of the investigations, new historical facts have been revealed,” said Faig. Hajiyev, an employee of the President’s Special Representation for Aghdam, Fuzuli and Khojavend, reports: “The Aghdam building complex is now open to visitors…”
Visitors to the building complex can use the services of the park, visitor center, museum and cafe created here. In the interactive museum complex you will find information dedicated to the Javanshir dynasty in different eras, historical facts about the Karabakh Khanate, an audiovisual presentation dedicated to the crafts and poems of Khurshidbanu Nateva and photographic materials reflecting the state of the building complex during occupation and after liberation from occupation are shown.
