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