Gubadli district is located in the south-west of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the south-east of the Karabakh plateau.  The surface is predominantly mountainous. It is located in the south-west of the Azerbaijan Republic, in the south-east of the Karabakh plateau. The district shares a 120-km border with Armenia, to the west, Lachin and Khojavand districts to the north, Jabrayil district to the east and Zangilan district to the south. Two big mountain rivers flow through the region – the Hakari and Bargushad rivers and most of the villages are located around them. Gubadli city is situated in the south-east of Karabakh plateau, on the bank of the Bazarchay River. It is the administrative centre of Gubadli district. (It received the status of a city on 24.07.1990), with an area of 802 square kilometres. There was 1 town – Gubadli and 93 villages in the district.

Gubadli and its surrounding villages were included in the administrative territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 18th century. Later, Gubadli became part of the Zangazur province, in 1868 after the establishment of the Yelizavetpol province. Gubadli district was formed in 1919. The territories of Biysk district bordered with Jabrayil and Shusha districts. In 1922 Gubadli district was abolished and attached to Jabrayil-Shusha district. Gubadli district was formed by the Decision of the Executive Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Council of People’s Commissars of 30 August 1930 and was included in the list of districts of the 1st category. On 24 November 1931, Gubadli district was united with Zangilan district by the decision of CEC, and on 14 March 1933 it was separated and became an independent district.

Since 1988, the Gubadli district, located on the border with Armenia (120 kilometres) and Nagorno-Karabakh (45 kilometres), has been subjected to attacks from both sides, and terror against civilians has been systematically continued.

On 31 August 1993, this district was fully occupied by Armenians.

Before the occupation, the economy of Gubadli was based on grain farming, cattle breeding, tobacco farming, silk farming and viticulture. There were 2 plants of primary processing of grapes, 1 butter and cheese factory, 1 asphalt plant, 1 poultry hatchery, 1 fish farm, 1 quarry, 1 marble shop, a branch of Azerbaijan experimental plant “Neftegazavtomat”, etc. in the district. In general, there were 62 departments and enterprises in Gubadli district.

There were 61 general education schools in Gubadli district, including 33 secondary schools, 16 eight-year schools and 12 primary schools. There were up to 180 cultural and educational institutions in Gubadli. The population was served by 84 libraries, 12 culture houses, 44 clubs and 7 auto clubs. There were also 2 children’s music schools in the region.

A total of 6,988 residential houses, 1,080 agricultural facilities, 32 communication facilities, 86 medical centres, 180 cultural and 6 industrial enterprises were built in the district. 650 kilometres of roads, 9 bridges, 2 water reservoirs, 150 kilometres of water mains, 4,830 kilometres of power lines, 165 kilometres of gas mains, 146 administrative buildings, 18 mills, 4 water pumping stations, 120 electrical substations and transformers, 13,365 hectares of forest land remained under occupation and were destroyed.

The Armenians also looted the Gubadli Museum of Local History, where more than 5000 rare exhibits were kept. Historical monuments in the villages of Eyyn, Yusifbeyli, Seyitas, Karagachli, Khojamsakhli, the chapel in the “Gavur Valley” of the 4th century, the monuments of “Galali” and “Goygala” of the 5th century, the tomb of “Demirchilar” built in the 14th century, the bridge of Hadji Badal, the bridge of Lalazar, and others were also looted and destroyed.

Forests of valuable tree species covering large areas of the region, underground resources with large reserves, water springs rich in mineral substances were exploited by Armenian invaders, amazing natural corners characterized by unique flora and fauna were destroyed.

In total, the private and state property of the Gubadli district worth 1.5 billion US dollars was looted and destroyed by the Armenian invaders.

As a result of the counterattack, launched by the Azerbaijani Army on 27 September 2020 against the enemy forces in the Jabrayil district, a crushing blow was dealt and successful operations were carried out in a short period of time. Thus, having created conditions for a successful advance in the Zangilan district located in the south, the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces entered the administrative boundaries of the Gubadli district.

On the 27th day of the Patriotic War – 23 October, the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan entered the territory of Gubadli district and started clearing the residential areas of the district from Armenian invaders. On this day, the first settlements of Gubadli district - Zilanli, Kurd Mahruzlu, Mughanli and Alagurshag villages were liberated from occupation. 25 October 2020,  the 29th day of the Patriotic War, the Azerbaijani Army liberated the city of Gubadli and several other villages of Gubadli district from occupation.

Liberating Gubadli, our Armed Forces had an excellent opportunity to conduct operations in the direction of Lachin. Sufficient conditions were created in the direction of Hadrut-Shusha for the advance of our troops. The road towards Lachin now was opened. The Lachin corridor was kept under full fire control. The supply of enemy resources to Karabakh and the ability of enemy units to manoeuvre inside Karabakh were completely restricted. The closure of the Lachin corridor sealed the fate of the military operations conducted specifically to liberate Shusha. The Gubadli battles somewhat brought the war waged by the Azerbaijani armed forces against the usurper Armenian army to its logical end.

As soon as the liberated lands were cleared of mines, construction works began, first of all the construction of vital infrastructure – power lines and roads. The total length of the projected roads is 83 kilometres. The new motorways Khudaferin-Gubadli-Lachin and Khanlig-Gubadli pass through the territory of Zangilan, Gubadli and Lachin districts liberated from occupation. The motorway covers more than 30 settlements in these districts, including the cities of Gubadli and Lachin.

The city of Gubadli is strategically important in terms of its geographical location and logistical possibilities, being situated between Zangilan and Lachin districts, where international airports are being built. The city will be formed as a connection point between the northern (Kalbajar) and southern (Zangilan) service and production networks, as an environmentally sustainable district center where agricultural and industrial areas will be developed together, with a training campus for innovative jobs and horticultural opportunities. In the next 20 years it is planned to increase the city area to 505 hectares and the population to 14,000 people.

In the next 20 years, Gubadli plans to develop vegetable and organic farming, fishing and fish farming, modern handicrafts, light industry, agrotourism and other areas. Thus, the unity of modern and traditional elements will be used in the formation of the architectural appearance of the city, and the image of a green city will be created.

According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated 31 July 2023 on establishment of city days in the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 25 October is solemnly celebrated as Gubadli City Day.

Recommended literature:

1. Qubadlı: qədim Azərbaycan torpağı Zəngəzurun qapısı: monoqrafiya / Y. M. Mahmudov [et al.] ; layihənin rəh., elmi red., ön sözün müəl. Y. M. Mahmudov ; AMEA A.A. Bakıxanov adına Tarix İnstitutu. - Bakı : Turxan NPB, 2013. - 424 s.
2. Sultanov, Mirdavud. Tarixdə 44 gün /M. Sultanov. - Küveyt: Ali Al-Naqi, [Azərbaycan Respublikasının Küveyt Dövlətindəki Səfirliyi], 2021. - 80 s.
3. Cəfərli, Tural Vaqif oğlu. 44 gün Zəfər Salnaməsi /T. Cəfərli ; red. V. Əlioğlu. - Bakı: Füyuzat, 2022. - 206 s.
4. 44 günlük diplomatiya dərsləri / AMEA Hüquq və İnsan Haqları İnstitutu ; ideya müəl. A. İ. Mustafayeva. - Bakı : Elm və təhsil, 2021. - 251 s.
5. Cəfərli, Tural Vaqif oğlu. "44 gün" zəfərə doğru : döyüşlərin xronologiyası, hərbi əməliyyatlar, Xüsusi Təyinatlı Qüvvələr, 10 noyabr Bəyanatı / T. Cəfərli ; red. V. Əlioğlu. - Bakı : Mücrü, 2022. - 96 s.
6. 44 gün anbaan... : rəsmi xronika / tərt. F. Cəfərli. - II nəşr. - Bakı : TEAS Press, 2022. - 648 s.
7. 44 gün Vətən Müharibəsi : Hulusi Kılıç informasiya cəbhəsində / ideya müəl. G. Yaz ; red. C. Qədir. - Bakı : XAN nəşriyyatı, 2021. - 152 s.
8. Bahar Sonam, R. Zəfər - 44 günlük Qarabağ müharibəsi - Azərbaycanın hərbi və diplomatik uğurları / R. Bahar Sonam ; Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qeyri-Hökumət Təşkilatlarına Dövlət Dəstəyi Agentliyi. - Bakı : Adiloğlu, 2022. - 304 s.
9. Zəfər salnaməsi / Yeni Azərbaycan Partiyası ; bur. məsul R. Kazımov ; red.: G. Cəfərova, A. Quliyeva. - Bakı : Şərq-Qərb, 2021. - 536 s.
10. Уроки дипломатии длиною в 44 дня / Институт Права и Прав Человека НАНА ; авт. идеи А. Мустафазаде. - Баку : Elm və təhsil, 2021. - 281 с.
11. Губадлы: ворота древней Азербайджанской земли Зангезур / Институт Истории им. А.А. Бакиханова НАНА ; рук. проекта, науч. ред., авт. предисл. Я. М. Махмудов ; сост. Г. Дж. Наджафли ; пер. с азерб.: Н. Н. Мамедзаде, И. В. Нифталиев. - Баку : Турхан ИПО, 2013. - 124 с.
12. Diplomacy lessons in 44 days /author of the idea: Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Law and Human Rights. - Baku: Elm və təhsil, 2021. - 245 p.
13. Gubadly : the ancient Azerbaijani land Zangazur's gateway / History Institute Academic Council within ANAS ; scientific ed., author of the preface Y. M. Mahmudov ; trans. A. Aghabeyli. - Baku : Turkhan PPA, 2013. - 120 p.