Madagiz offensive

On 27 September 2020, clashes broke out in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is de facto controlled by Artsakh, but de jure part of Azerbaijan.[6] This was followed by an offensive launched by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the direction of Talish and Madagiz next day,[7] with the Azerbaijani forces had gaining control of a "strategic high ground" around Talish.[8] On 29 September, the Azerbaijani authorities stated that their aerial and ground forces destroyed a mixed column of Armenian military vehicles travelling from Madagiz, together with an artillery battery.[9] They also stated that the Azerbaijani forces had destroyed an Armenian position near Talish.[10] On 2 October, the Azerbaijani forces captured and took control of dominant heights around Madagiz,[11] By 3 October, the Azerbaijani forces had seized control of Talish[12] and Madagiz,[13] as well as the latter's strategic dam.[2] On 9 October, the Azerbaijani authorities released confirmary footage from Talish and Madagiz.[14][15]

On 3 October, Madagiz was renamed to Sugovushan by the decree of Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan.[16]

Azerbaijani colonel Babak Samidli, deputy commander of the 1st Army Corps, died from a land-mine explosion on 23 November, during a post-armistice search for the bodies of missing soldiers in Madagiz.[17]