Armenian forces captured Aghdam in July 1993, marking a major territorial shift in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and resulting in mass displacement of Azerbaijani civilians.
Key Facts
- Date of capture
- 23 July 1993
- Pre-war population of Aghdam
- ~50,000 inhabitants
- Distance from Stepanakert
- ~30 km northeast
- Distance from NK border
- ~5 km east
- Post-capture fate
- City intentionally looted and burned
- HRW findings
- Hostage-taking, indiscriminate fire, forced civilian displacement
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Armenian forces viewed Aghdam as the primary Azerbaijani staging area for artillery strikes and attacks against Nagorno-Karabakh. Exploiting a power vacuum in Azerbaijan in mid-1993, Karabakh Armenian forces launched an offensive against the city and surrounding Aghdam District.
Between June and July 1993, Armenian forces conducted a military offensive culminating in the capture of Aghdam on 23 July 1993. Human Rights Watch documented violations during the offensive, including hostage-taking, indiscriminate fire, and the forcible displacement of the city's predominantly Azerbaijani civilian population.
Following the capture, Aghdam was systematically looted and burned under orders of Karabakh Armenian authorities, reportedly in retaliation for Azerbaijan's destruction of Martakert. Every Azerbaijani house was blown up to discourage return, leaving the city largely uninhabited and in ruins.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent