Askeran adjoins Martakert Province on the north, Aghdam District of Azerbaijan on the east.

Stepanakert, the capital of the Republic of Artsakh, is located south-west of the province.

Following the formation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast a raion was formed which was centered on Stepanakert.

As the Karabakh conflict started, the Azerbaijani government began to implement a plan to create a new district center.

These mainly consisted of immigrants from Central Asia (more than 2000 Meskhetian Turks) and Armenia (about 2000).