On December 21, 2023, the teams of Agdam's "Karabagh" and Baku's MOIK met in the 1/8 final stage of the Azerbaijan Cup on football at the Khankendi city stadium, recently liberated from occupation through a local anti-terrorist operation. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the event. President Aliyev, in his address, expressed gratitude to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Azerbaijani lands and veterans, and emphasized the country's status as a fully independent sovereign state.
The event saw a significant presence of scientists, journalists, artists, and political figures, as well as families of martyrs and veterans. Dr. Orkhan Valiyev, the head of Khazar University's Department of Political Sciences and Philosophy, participated in the event upon invitation from the relevant state institution.