Askeran Province

For other uses, see Askeran.

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

Askeran Region (Template:Lang-hy) 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

Further information: History of Nagorno-Karabakh and Askeran clash

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.

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).