Zangilan District () is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the south-west of the country and belongs to the East Zangezur Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Qubadli, Jabrayil, the Syunik Province of Armenia and the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran. Its capital and largest city is Zangilan. As of 2020, the district had a nominal population of 45,200.
There are historical monuments in the territory of the district: a circular tower in Khadijally village, an octagonal mausoleum of Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Haj (1304–1305) in Məmmədbəyli village.
On 20 October 2020, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, announced that Azerbaijani military forces recaptured some settlements in Zangilan district, namely, Havali, Zarnali, Mammadbayli, Hakari, Sharifan, Mughanli villages, as well as Zangilan city itself. On October 21, 2020, it was announced that Minjivan settlement and 12 more villages of Zangilan district have been recaptured. Azerbaijani authorities announced the capture of 13 more villages and Aghband settlement of Zangilan district on October 22, 2020. The recapture of Aghband settlement was highlighted for the reason that full control over the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran was established after the recapture.
On 19 July 2022, the first residents returned to Ağalı village after 29 years. The village has a school, post office, health centre, bank, market and café. It is expected that 1300 people will live in the village.
Demographics
On 1 January 1979, the population was 28,400, counting 83 settlements.
According to other sources, 29,377 people lived in 1979 in the district. Ethnic composition of the 29,377 people:
- Azerbaijanis 97,6% (28.685)
- Russians 2,0% (590)
- Armenians 0,1% (35)
Number of inhabitants rose to 32,698 people in 1989.
See also
- Armenian-occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh