Agdam (rayon)

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**Ağdam**

Population (1993):	163,400
Population (post 1993):	0
Area (sq. km.):	1,150
Capital:	Ağdam

Agdam (Azerbaijani: Ağdam, Armenian: Աղդամ Aghdam) is a rayon in southwestern Azerbaijan, and the same-named capital city of the rayon, which is currently a ghost town. At its height the town had over 160,000 residents, with its own airport. The town was occupied by the Armenian forces in July 1993 during the ongoing dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh area. The Armenians then systematically destroyed the town^{[citation needed]}. The remains have been looted by Armenians living close by, taking materials from the destroyed buildings to restore their own^{[citation needed]}. Although the city itself is completely destroyed, the Muslim cemetery and mosque remain undamaged. Most of the refugees from Agdam now live in camps and makeshift cities in the region of Barda and Sumgait. About half of the rayon is currently controlled by Armenian forces.

The area is currently being used as a buffer zone against the Azeri army. The city is not claimed by Armenians and it is undisputed Azerbaijani territory, and this is acknowledged by Armenia. This is one of the main reasons why the area has not been inhabited by Armenians themselves. There have been talks of handing over the city back to Azerbaijan, but nothing official has been announced. Armenia allows only a limited number of foreigners to visit the city and photographing is not allowed^{[citation needed]}. UN and OSCE condemned on several occasions the seizure and the town is a controversial subject that is yet to be resolved. In particular, the UN Security Council Resolution # 853, adopted on 29 July 1993, condemned “the seizure of the district of Agdam and of all other recently occupied areas of the Azerbaijani Republic” and demanded “unconditional withdrawal of the occupying forces involved from the district of Agdam and all other recently occupied areas of the Azerbaijan Republic”.^[1]