Askeran Region

Askeran Ասկերան
Region
Capital	Askeran
Government
• Governor	Sergey Grigoryan
Area
• Total	1,222 km2 (472 sq mi)
Area rank	Ranked 5th
Population (2013)
• Total	18,251
• Rank	Ranked 4th
• Density	15/km2 (39/sq mi)
Website	Askeran Province

Askeran Region (Armenian: Ասկերան) is one of the eight regions of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), coterminous with the Azerbaijani Khojali District. It is in the center of the NKR, surrounding the capital Stepanakert.

Territorial entities

Askeran Region has 42 communities of which 1 is considered urban and 41 are considered rural.

Geography

Askeran adjoins Martakert Region on the north, Agdam District of Azerbaijan on the east. Hadrut Region and Shushi Region in the south, Martuni Region in the south east and Kashatagh Region on the west. Stepanakert, the capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, is located in the south-west of the region.

The remains of Askeran fortress

History

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 District of Azerbaijan that is controlled by the NKR is included in the Askeran Region. Also located here are the ruins of Tigranakert (Artsakh).

References

Askeran Region
Capital: Askeran
Urban comunities	Askeran
Rural comunities	Aknaghbyur Armenakavan Astghashen Avetaranots Aygestan Badara Berkadzor Dahrav Dashushen Harav Hilis Hovsepavan Jraghatsner Ivanyan Karmirgyugh Khachen Khachmach Khanabad Khantsk Khnatsakh Khndzristan Khramort Krasni Lusadzor Madatashen Mkhitarishen Moshkhmhat Nakhijevanik Nerkin Sznek Noragyugh Parukh Rev Sardarashen Sarnaghbyur Sarushen Shosh Sghnakh Tsaghkashat Ughtasar Vardadzor Verin Sznek

Administrative divisions of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic)
Capital city	Stepanakert
Regions	Askeran Hadrut Kashatagh Martakert Martuni Shahumyan1 Shushi
Provincial capitals	Askeran Hadrut Berdzor Martakert Martuni Karvachar Shushi
Other urban communities	Kovsakan Mijnavan Vorotan
1 Claimed by the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic but partly under Azerbaijani control.

Coordinates: 40°12′37″N 46°48′33″E / 40.2103°N 46.8092°E / 40.2103; 46.8092