Khojaly District

Khojaly District (Azerbaijani: Xocalı rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the west of the country in the Karabakh Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Aghdara, Lachin, Shusha, Agdam and Khojavend. Its capital and largest city is Khojaly.

Khojaly District
District
Map of Azerbaijan showing Khojaly District
Country	Azerbaijan
Region	Karabakh
Established	26 November 1991
Capital	Khojaly
Settlements	53
Government
• Governor	Shahmar Usubov
Area
• Total	1,000 km2 (390 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,800
• Density	29/km2 (75/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4 (AZT)
Postal code	2600
Website	xocali-ih.gov.az

History

The centre of the district, the town of Khojaly, was also the site of the Khojaly Massacre, the largest massacre throughout the whole Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Following the massacre, most of the district was captured and made part of the Askeran Province of the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh.

Khojaly district was established on the basis of the Askeran District of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1991. It was captured by Armenian forces in 1991–1992.

The district consists of 1 city, 2 settlements and 50 villages in the district. It was once a site of prehistoric Khojaly-Gadabay culture.

Following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Azerbaijan recaptured some villages in the district, while most of the district, including its capital, was put under Russian peacekeeping control. After the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh and the capitulation of the Artsakh Defence Army in the area the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region was restored to Azerbaijani control.

Geography

Khojaly district is located in Nagorno-Karabakh. The territory of the district is mountainous. The highest altitudes are Qirkhqiz and Gizgala, the main rivers are Gargar and Badara. The climate is mild-hot except the mountainous area.

Demographics

As of 2020, the district had a nominal population of 28,800.

As of January 2026, 906 Azerbaijani families, totaling 3700 individuals, have been resettled in the Khojaly District by Azerbaijan.

Economy

Khojaly District is an emerging economic area in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Its economy has been driven primarily by agriculture, livestock farming, sericulture (silk production), construction, and infrastructure development associated with the district's reconstruction and resettlement programs.

One of the flagship economic projects is the revival of sericulture in the village of Dashbulaq. Key developments include the establishment of a 13-hectare mulberry orchard with approximately 130,000 mulberry trees imported from China, planned expansion to more than 150 hectares, expected production of up to 500 tons of mulberry leaves annually by 2030, resumption of silkworm cocoon harvesting in Khojaly for the first time in 34 years.

The Khojaly Brick Factory is one of the largest industrial projects established in the Khojaly District since reconstruction efforts began in the Karabakh region. The factory is located in the village of Dashbulag and was officially inaugurated on 18 July 2025.

Also a modern livestock complex was opened in Khanabad, featuring capacity for approximately 750 head of cattle, annual meat production of around 100 tons, annual milk production capacity of up to 2,000 tons, with plans for further expansion and potential exports to international markets.

Notable figures

• Ramil Usubov – the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Republic of Azerbaijan.;
• Elman Mammadov – Azerbaijani politician who serves as the Member of National Assembly of Azerbaijan from 124th Shusha-Fuzuli-Khojaly-Khojavend district. He's a veteran of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
• Alif Hajiyev – Azerbaijani officer, Commandant of Khojaly Airport and National Hero of Azerbaijan.
• Tofig Huseynov – Azerbaijani army commander.
• Pele Pughi – 18th century Armenian satirist and fabulist.

See also

• Khojaly massacre
• Kosalar
• Lachin
• Kalbajar
• Aghdam
• Shusha