Accra:Sugovushan and Talish Today marks the sixth anniversary of the liberation of Sugovushan and Talish villages in the Tartar district from Armenian occupation.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, on October 3, 2020, Azerbaijani forces successfully cleared these villages of Armenian troops, raising the Azerbaijani flag over both locations. Originally known as Sugovushan, the village was renamed Madagiz during the Soviet era and had changed hands several times during the conflict. It was first liberated by Azerbaijan in 1991-1992 but was retaken by Armenian forces in 1994.
The village is home to the Sugovushan water reservoir and the Sugovushan-1 hydroelectric power station. These resources were previously controlled by Armenian military units, including the notable unit number 49971. The successful operation in 2020 was announced by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who later congratulated Major General Hikmat Hasanov for his leadership during the battle.
The Battle of Sugovushan was pivotal in the northeastern front of the Second Karabakh War, with Azerbaijani forces destroying and capturing multiple Armenian tanks and vehicles. The operation also restored the water supply from the Sugovushan reservoir to the Tartar, Goranboy, and Yevlakh districts, which was crucial for maintaining ecological balance.
Following the liberation, President Aliyev initiated legislation to rename the village of Madagiz back to Sugovushan, a move that was approved by the Azerbaijani Parliament. In recognition of their efforts, several military personnel were awarded the ‘For the Liberation of Sugovushan’ medal.
Talish village, also liberated on October 3, 2020, has a rich history as the center of the Melikdom of Gulistan in the 18th-19th centuries. Like Sugovushan, it was part of the Aghdara district before the district’s territory was redistributed. Talish had been occupied by Armenian forces but was briefly liberated in 1992 before being reoccupied. The strategic heights around Talish were secured by Azerbaijan in later operations in 2016 and 2017.
Alongside Sugovushan and Talish, other villages in the Jabrayil and Fuzuli districts were also freed from Armenian control on October 3, 2020.