Institute of Geography named after acad. H. Aliyev of AR MSE continues to study the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions.

Researchers from the Department of Demography and Population Geography, led by Department Head Etibar Badalov, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, have been in 10-day expedition to the Karabakh and East Zangezur economic regions. The main route began in the Fuzuli district and covered the administrative districts of Jabrayil, Zangilan, Lachin, Shusha, Khankendi, Khojaly, and Aghdam districts.

During the visit, the settlement process in existing settlements in the region, the socioeconomic and demographic situation were studied, meetings were held with employees of relevant government agencies, and statistical data was collected. The staff inspected newly constructed social infrastructure facilities (a school, kindergarten, hospital, etc.), familiarized themselves with construction and reconstruction work being carried out at industrial, agricultural, and transport infrastructure sites in the administrative districts, and examined the current situation.

The department's staff also spoke with local residents of the village of Aghali (Zangilan district), Azerbaijan's first "smart village." They also inspected the reconstructed infrastructure of the village of Mammadbeyli.

The progress of restoration work in Zabukh, Sousse, Beylik, and several newly constructed villages in the Lachin district was then closely monitored. Information on the population relocated to these settlements (number of families, employment, age distribution, etc.) was collected from authorized representatives of the administrative districts in the restoration, construction, and management services.