| Askeran Ասկերան |
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|---|---|
| — Province — | |
| Capital | Askeran |
| Government | |
| • Governor | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,222 km2 (471.8 sq mi) |
| Area rank | Ranked 5th |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 16,979 |
| • Rank | Ranked 4th |
| • Density | 13.9/km2 (36/sq mi) |
| Postal code | |
| Website | www.karabakh.net |
Askeran (Armenian: Ասկերան) is one of the eight provinces of the unrecognised Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), coterminous with the Azerbaijani rayon of Khojali. It is in the center of the NKR, surrounding its capital city of Stepanakert.
Askeran adjoins the Mardakert on the north, Agdam of Azerbaijan on the east. Hadrut and Shushi in the south, Martuni in the south east and Kashatagh on the west. Stepanakert, the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, is located in the south-west of the province.
During the middle ages the left side of the Askeran province was part of Principality of Khachen and the right side Varanda the center of which was Avetaranots, located in the south of the region.
Following the formation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast a rayon was formed, center of which was the capital Stepanakert. In 1978, Askeran became the center of the rayon, and the rayon was renamed to Askeran. Total of 52 settlements were registered in 1979.
As the Karabakh conflict started, the Azerbaijani government began to implement a plan to create a new district center. From 1988 to 1990 the population of the village Khojaly was increased from 2135 to 6000 residents, which mostly consisted of immigrants from Central Asia (more than 2000 Meskhetian Turks) and Armenia (about 2000). In April 1990, Khojaly received a city status, becoming a regional center. Newly created Khojaly district included Askeran District and part of Martuni.[1]
Currently part of the Agdam rayon of Azerbaijan that is controlled by the NKR is included in the Askeran province. Also located here are the ruins of Tigranakert (Artsakh).
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