Kalbajar is one of the oldest human settlements of Azerbaijan. The emergence and formation of primitive man in this area is associated with the fourth geological period. This period represents a history of more than 4 million years. Kalbajar first received the status of an administrative district on August 8, 1930. Kalbajar, which largely has a mountainous terrain, is rich in numerous mineral water sources, flowing rivers and minerals.

There are many historical monuments from the Albanian period in Kalbajar. The most famous of them is the Khudavang temple. Other ancient Albanian monuments in Kalbajar include “Lachingaya”, “Lev”, “Ulukhan”, “Galaboynu”, “Jomard”, just to name a few. The rock carvings in the Kalbajar area are similar to the written and pictorial stones in Gobustan and are said to be their “twins”. The rock carvings in places such as Soltan Heydar, Gurbaghali Chay, Turshsu, Aychingilli, Gelingayasi, Boyukdavagozu, Sercheli and others are evidence that not only Kalbajar, but also the entire Azerbaijani land was an ancient human settlement.

In Kalbajar district, which was occupied by Armenia on April 2, 1993, numerous historical monuments were destroyed, their appearance was intentionally changed and appropriated, and social infrastructure and administrative buildings were destroyed.

As a result of Victory achieved in the 44-day Patriotic War, Kalbajar was liberated from occupation on November 25, 2020, in accordance with the Trilateral Statement signed on November 10. Today, November 25, is celebrated as the Day of the City of Kalbajar in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the Establishment of City Days in the Liberated Territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan”.

Currently, as a result of the special attention of the head of state, extensive restoration and reconstruction work is underway in Kalbajar, and indeed all other territories liberated from occupation. The return of former internally displaced persons to the city of Kalbajar has been ongoing since August 20, 2025, and this process continues at an increasing pace.

As the next significant milestone in the Great Return process, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva met with citizens who have returned to the city of Kalbajar and presented them with the keys to their new apartments.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of the “Kalbajar” substation as part of their first visit to Kalbajar. The head of state got acquainted with the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Lev river and laid the foundation stone of a 3.4-kilometer tunnel to be built on the Kalbajar-Lachin highway.

In accordance with the instructions of the head of state, the following small hydroelectric power stations (SHPs) have been commissioned in Kalbajar district to date: “Kalbajar-1”, “Meydan”, “Gamishli”, “Soyugbulag”, “Chirag-1”, “Chirag-2”, “Zar”, the “Yukhari Vang” hydroelectric power station, as well as the 110/35 kV “Istisu” substation.

In line with President Ilham Aliyev’s instructions to transform the Garabagh and East Zangazur economic regions into a “green energy” zone, the Ashagi Vang, Nadirkhanli, and Chaykend small hydropower plants in the village of Vang, Kalbajar district have been put into operation.

The head of state has also participated in the groundbreaking ceremonies of the first and second residential complexes, an administrative building and a school building in the villages of Yanshag, Zallar and Zar of Kalbajar district, the Istisu settlement and the city of Kalbajar, and the opening ceremony of the “Istisu” mineral water plant.

Under the leadership of the Head of State, extensive work is being carried out to ensure the development of each liberated district in accordance with its field of specialization. As a result of this, the “Balland-Kalbajar Honey, Bees, and Beekeeping Products Store”, inaugurated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has already started operating.