Editing Stepanakert (section)

===Control by Azerbaijan===
[[File:Ilham Aliyev raised the National Flag of Azerbaijan in Khankendi city.jpg|200px|thumb|President [[Ilham Aliyev]] raised the [[Flag of Azerbaijan]] over the city on 15 October 2023]]

On 19–20 September 2023 Azerbaijan launched a new [[2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh|offensive in the region]], which ended in a ceasefire and led to a [[Flight of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians|mass exodus of ethnic Armenians]] a few days later. By 29 September 2023, police of the [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Artsakh)|Ministry of Internal Affairs of Artsakh]] left all their weapons in Stepanakert and completely abandoned the region.<ref name=taz1>{{cite web |url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3804718.html |title=So-called "police" of separatists, abandons weapons in Khankendi, leaves Karabakh |publisher=[[Trend News Agency]] |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930011012/https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3804718.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Law enforcement in Azerbaijan|Azerbaijani police]] vehicles began patrolling the area on 29 September and the [[flag of Azerbaijan|Azerbaijani flag]] was placed on the city's ''[[We Are Our Mountains]]'' monument.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.businesslend.com/news/presidential-representative-in-karabakh-shares-image-from-azerbaijans-khankendi/ |title=Presidential consultant in Karabakh shares picture from Azerbaijan's Khankendi |website=Businesselend.com |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=29 September 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930010259/https://www.businesslend.com/sports/lisandro-martinez-could-be-out-for-two-months-in-latest-man-utd-injury-blow/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.az/news/azerbaijani-police-takes-up-serving-in-khankendi-video |title=Azerbaijani police takes up serving in Khankendi |website=News.az |date=29 September 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=30 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930010245/https://news.az/news/azerbaijani-police-takes-up-serving-in-khankendi-video |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk"/> From 1 October, Azerbaijani officials began working from the former Artsakh police headquarters,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3805484.html |title=Azerbaijani authorities provide social, migration services for Karabakh Armenians |website=[[Trend News Agency]] |date=1 October 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002014322/https://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/politics/3805484.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Azerbaijan took over responsibility for medical services in the city<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.az/news/azerbaijan-takes-measures-to-arrange-medical-services-in-khankendi-photo |title=Azerbaijan takes measures to arrange medical services in Khankendi |website=News.az |date=1 October 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006144739/https://news.az/news/azerbaijan-takes-measures-to-arrange-medical-services-in-khankendi-photo |url-status=live }}</ref> and its area was covered by the Azerbaijani mobile networks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.az/news/azercell-extends-its-coverage-to-khankendi |title=Azercell extends its coverage to Khankendi! |website=News.az |date=1 October 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005195924/https://news.az/news/azercell-extends-its-coverage-to-khankendi |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://report.az/en/ict/nar-network-in-khankandi-city/ |title=Nar network in Khankandi city! |website=Report.az |date=1 October 2023 |access-date=1 October 2023 |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005195928/https://report.az/en/ict/nar-network-in-khankandi-city/ |url-status=live }}</ref> An [[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] news crew reported from the city later that day, showing deserted streets in what the reporter described as "A ghost town with no soul left".<ref name=alj1>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/1/un-team-in-nagorno-karabakh-a-first-in-30-years-as-ethnic-armenians-flee |title=UN team in Nagorno-Karabakh, a first in 30 years, as ethnic Armenians flee |website=Aljazeera.com |date=1 October 2023 |access-date=2 October 2023 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002001646/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/1/un-team-in-nagorno-karabakh-a-first-in-30-years-as-ethnic-armenians-flee |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the offensive and Armenian exodus, sources reported that Azerbaijani authorities issued a map of Stepanakert renaming one of the streets after [[Enver Pasha]], one of the main perpetrators of the [[Armenian genocide]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vincent |first1=Faustine |title=Azerbaijan reissues Nagorno-Karabakh map with street named after Turkish leader of 1915 Armenian genocide |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/10/04/azerbaijan-reissues-map-of-nagorno-karabakh-with-street-named-after-turkish-leader-of-1915-armenian-genocide_6146889_4.html |access-date=5 October 2023 |work=Le Monde.fr |date=4 October 2023 |language=en |archive-date=4 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004235346/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/10/04/azerbaijan-reissues-map-of-nagorno-karabakh-with-street-named-after-turkish-leader-of-1915-armenian-genocide_6146889_4.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Zaman |first1=Amberin |title=Azerbaijan eyes Iran, Armenia borderlands after 'voluntary' exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/10/azerbaijan-eyes-iran-armenia-borderlands-after-voluntary-exodus-nagorno-karabakh |access-date=5 October 2023 |work=www.al-monitor.com |date=3 October 2023 |language=en |archive-date=5 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231005012645/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/10/azerbaijan-eyes-iran-armenia-borderlands-after-voluntary-exodus-nagorno-karabakh |url-status=live }}</ref> An Azerbaijani official disputed this during a case at the [[International Court of Justice]], saying that "No streets in Khankandi have been renamed".<ref>{{cite web |date=12 October 2023 |title=Public sitting held on Thursday 12 October 2023, at 4 p.m., at the Peace Palace, President Donoghue presiding, in the case concerning Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan) |url=https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/180/180-20231012-ora-02-00-bi.pdf |accessdate=13 October 2023 |publisher=[[ICJ]] |quote=...this morning, Armenia showed images of a map that allegedly includes "new Azerbaijani" names on "renamed" streets in Khankandi. Let me be clear on that. No streets in Khankandi have been renamed. The social media post on which Armenia relies was originally posted in August 2021...}}</ref>

President Ilham Aliyev visited the city on 15 October and officially raised the flag of Azerbaijan at the building that was previously used as the Artsakh Presidential Palace.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20231015-azerbaijan-president-raises-national-flag-in-nagorno-karabakh-capital |title=Azerbaijan's president raises national flag in Nagorno-Karabakh capital |date=15 October 2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016061810/https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20231015-azerbaijan-president-raises-national-flag-in-nagorno-karabakh-capital |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2023, the first football match since the resumption of Azerbaijani control was played between [[MOIK Baku]] and [[Qarabağ FK]] from [[Aghdam]] in the [[Azerbaijan Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qafqazinfo.az/news/detail/xankendide-qarabag-qazandi-video-yenilenib-422097|date=21 December 2023|accessdate=2 January 2024|title=Xankəndidə "Qarabağ" qazandı|website=qafqazinfo.az}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/karabakh-region-hosts-first-football-match-post-armenian-occupation-2023-12-21-0/|title=Karabakh Region Hosts First Football Match Post-Armenian Occupation|last=Turksoy|first=Timucin|date=21 December 2023|accessdate=2 January 2024|website=Caspian News}}</ref>

In the following months, Azerbaijani authorities dismantled monuments symbolizing Artsakh, including the Giant Cross and the Eagle Monument,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-19 |title=Azerbaijan Toppled the Cross in Stepanakert |url=https://monumentwatch.org/en/alerts/azerbaijan-toppled-the-cross-in-stepanakert/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |publisher=Monumentwatch.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-15 |title=Azerbaijan destroys Karabakh capital Stepanakert's Eagle Monument built during Soviet era |url=https://news.am/eng/news/807641.html |access-date=2024-03-05 |publisher=[[News.am]]}}</ref> and statues of prominent Armenians in the city, among them, [[Stepan Shahumyan]] (after whom Stepanakert is named),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-21 |title=Azerbaijanis Vandalize Statue of Stepan Shahumyan in Stepanakert |url=https://monumentwatch.org/en/alerts/azerbaijanis-vandalize-statue-of-stepan-shahumyan-in-stepanakert/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |publisher=Monumentwatch.org}}</ref> [[Charles Aznavour]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-28 |title=Azerbaijan dismantles Charles Aznavour monument in Stepanakert |url=https://en.armradio.am/2024/02/28/azerbaijan-dismantles-charles-aznavour-monument-in-stepanakert/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |publisher=[[Public Radio of Armenia]]}}</ref> and [[Alexander Myasnikyan]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=Azerbaijan Destroys Alexander Myasnikyan Statue in Stepanakert |url=https://mirrorspectator.com/2024/02/29/azerbaijan-destroys-alexander-myasnikyan-statue-in-stepanakert/|access-date=2024-03-05 |publisher=[[The Armenian Mirror-Spectator]]}}</ref>

In early March 2024, Azerbaijani authorities demolished the [[National Assembly (Artsakh)|National Assembly of Artsakh]] Building and the [[Artsakh Freedom Fighters Union]] Building.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=Azerbaijanis Destroy Artsakh National Assembly Building |url=https://www.thearmenianreport.com/post/azerbaijanis-destroy-artsakh-national-assembly-building |access-date=2024-03-05 |publisher=The Armenian Report}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=Azerbaijanis destroy Karabakh parliament building |url=https://news.am/eng/news/810490.html |access-date=2024-03-05 |publisher=[[News.am]]}}</ref> In November 2024, reports emerged that Azerbaijan demolished the historical Armenian center of the city.<ref name="nov2024-1">{{Cite web|url=https://observers.france24.com/en/how-azerbaijan-erasing-traces-ancient-armenian-presence-nagorno-karabakh|title=How Azerbaijan is erasing traces of the ancient Armenian presence in Nagorno-Karabakh|website=observers.france24.com|date=2024-11-07}}</ref><ref name="nov2024-2">{{Cite web|url=https://mirrorspectator.com/2024/10/31/azerbaijan-razes-entire-historic-center-of-stepanakert/|title=Azerbaijan Razes Entire Historic Center of Stepanakert|website=mirrorspectator.com|date=2024-10-31}}</ref>