Over 80% of Shushi's Infrastructure Restored, More Than Half of the Residents Returned

Shushi is one of the communities in Artsakh that has borne the weight of war. Six residents of Shushi have lost their lives, and three were wounded in defense of their homeland. According to the community leader, necessary measures are being taken to facilitate the return of residents, with about 80% of the infrastructure restored and more than half of the population having returned. Prior to the war unleashed by Azerbaijan, the village had a population of 621; today, it stands at 390.

Water supply is managed by the community through gravity flow, sourced from two springs. There are a total of 16 springs within the community. The school was built in 2004 with the support of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. The school has been operational since January 11, and the kindergarten opened on February 15.

As a result of the military operations, most of the agricultural land in the community has come under Azerbaijani control, creating serious issues regarding employment for the population. Demining operations are underway in Shushi, along with awareness-raising measures to prevent contact with explosive materials among the residents. Construction work on damaged houses is also actively ongoing.

The village is home to a church that was renovated before the war with the contributions of local benefactor and “Hero of Artsakh” Karen Jalavyan. One service has been held there after the war. Shushi has several food service points, a medical station, and a community hall. It is gasified and has internet service. Only the main street of the village is illuminated, and, for safety reasons, there is an urgent need for the installation of a nighttime lighting system in the community.

A concerning issue is the repair of intra-village roads. Transportation connections are established, and passenger transfers are carried out through regular routes and personal vehicles.