One of the main reasons of "specification of the position" by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces on March 24 in the direction of Farrukh village of Khojaly and strategic height under the same name was to protect the Khachinchay watercourse from Armenian terrorists and ensure security of the Khachinchay reservoir.

“The Khachinchay reservoir is right under Mount Farrukh, right next to the village of Farrukh, and the Armenian military positions were threatening the operation of this reservoir. In other words, it was a huge source of danger. Shots were repeatedly fired in the direction of Aghdam from there and other villages. I think there is no-one in the world who wouldn’t know of Mount Farrukh, and Mount Farrukh, the great mountain of Azerbaijan, is under our control now. The Azerbaijani flag flies there now. Mount Farrukh is of great importance for the safety of the Khachinchay and the use of this water,” President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said at a meeting dedicated to the results of the first quarter of 2022.

The Khachinchay reservoir, which was built in 1964, has become unusable and left without maintenance and repair during the occupation. Furthermore, heavy machinery has completely destroyed the asphalt road over the 44-metre dam. 

Interestingly, Armenian servicemen did not only destroy Khachinderbetlli, Cinli and other villages, but also built artillery caponiers in the hollow located in front of the cemetery and dam in order to secure themselves from counter-battery fires of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. The reason is that their counter-attack may destroy the old tomb in the cemetery and massive dam of the Khachinchay reservoir. 

The Khachinchay reservoir, which is 940 metres long and has a capacity of 23 million cubic metres is being controlled by Azerbaijan following signing of the trilateral statement and the withdrawal of the contingent of the Armenian forces from Aghdam region. The depth of the hydraulic mechanism is 37 metres, and is located at an altitude of 507.4 m above sea level. 

Following the operation of position specification and the Azerbaijani army's control of the unnamed heights of Farrukh (1145 and 1050.8), the reservoir, which will have an important role in  irrigation of the demined lands of Aghdam may continue to operate safely. Certainly, after the major overhaul…  

Hans Kloss

More about: