BAKU, Azerbaijan, September
21. An operation lasting less than 24 hours had
put an end to separatism in Karabakh, political analyst Azer
Garayev told Trend.
According to him, September 19–20, 2023, went down in
Azerbaijan's modern history as a significant turning point.
Localized anti-terror measures conducted in the Karabakh economic
region lasted for nearly a day, resulting in the cessation of the
activities of the separatist armed structure that had existed in
the region for many years. Subsequently, September 20 was
established as State Sovereignty Day in Azerbaijan.
"The process leading up to this event was closely linked to the
period following the 2020 Patriotic War. Even after the trilateral
statement of November 10, 2020, remnants of Armenian armed forces
and illegal armed groups continued to be present in Azerbaijani
territories. During that time, the Azerbaijani side repeatedly
raised concerns regarding the accumulation of weapons and military
equipment, the fortification of positions, and various provocations
in the region. This situation persisted until September 2023.
Provocations by Armenia and the remnants of the separatist
regime did not cease. On September 2, 2023, Armenian Prime Minister
Nikol Pashinyan issued a congratulatory message marking the
anniversary of the so-called 'declaration of independence of
Karabakh.' On September 9, so-called 'presidential election' was
held in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region. Subsequently, military
personnel, along with police officers and civilians, were killed
and wounded by the explosion of a pre-planted mine on the
Ahmadbayli-Fuzuli-Shusha highway. On that same day, the launch of
localized anti-terror measures aimed at preventing large-scale
military provocations in the Karabakh economic region was
announced," he said.
According to him, as a result of the anti-terror operation—which
lasted less than a day—the remaining Armenian armed forces in the
region were fully disarmed and withdrawn from Azerbaijani
territory, while the remnants of the puppet regime announced its
dissolution. The fact that the operation concluded in such a short
time was a testament to the high combat readiness, professionalism,
and prior military experience of the Azerbaijani Army.
"The events of September 19–20 marked the final stage of the new
reality established by the 44-day war that ended in 2020. While
Azerbaijan had restored a significant portion of its territorial
integrity in 2020, it fully secured its state sovereignty over
Karabakh in September 2023. In 2024, by the decree of President
Ilham Aliyev, September 20 was declared State Sovereignty Day in
Azerbaijan."
In this regard, September 19–20, 2023, became a memorable date
in Azerbaijan's history, marked by significant changes that
unfolded over a short period. A military operation lasting nearly
23 hours brought an end to a phase of separatism that had persisted
for more than three decades. Following the conclusion of the
Azerbaijan Army's operation, new tasks lay ahead: ensuring
security, clearing mines, restoring destroyed settlements, and
continuing the return of formerly displaced persons to their native
lands.
"Thus, the events that began on September 19 didn’t simply
conclude with the end of the military operation on September 20.
That date marked the beginning of a new phase, resulting in the
restoration of Azerbaijani state administration in Karabakh and the
securing of sovereignty across the country's entire territory," he
noted.
