Historians and activists have called for international condemnation of the destruction of Armenian monuments in Karabakh.
The destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh has become the subject of a joint investigation by the UK Parliament and the International Bar Association. Karabakh public figures have expressed hope that the international community will respond to Azerbaijan's actions.
As "Caucasian Knot" reported, in December, a video of destruction inside the Yerits Mankants Monastery appeared on Azerbaijani social media, while satellite images also show the destruction of the Holy Savior Monastery, both dating back to the 17th century. Historians called on the international community to respond to the destruction of Armenian monuments in Karabakh. Christian monuments in Azerbaijan are protected by the state, Azerbaijani experts insist.
Karabakh historians and activists have repeatedly reported on the destruction of historical buildings and memorials in the region by the Azerbaijani authorities. On May 12, 2024, the Foundation for the Study of Armenian Architecture reported, citing satellite images of the area, that the Surb Hambardzum Church in Berdzor was completely destroyed. The church was built in the 1990s and is therefore not a historical monument protected by Azerbaijani law, Baku objected.
The UK Parliament, together with the International Bar Association, launched an investigation, "Erasing the Past: Destruction of Cultural Heritage," into the destruction of monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh. The first meeting addressed not only the cultural heritage of Armenians in Karabakh, but also a wide range of issues related to the rights of Karabakh Armenians, their problems, and expectations, said Artak Beglaryan, head of the Artsakh Union NGO and former Nagorno-Karabakh Ombudsman.
"The UK is one of the world's leading powers, and the parliamentary investigation, conducted jointly with the International Bar Association, indicates that the 'Erasing the Past: Destruction of Cultural Heritage' initiative has a high international status. What will be the outcome of these actions? I believe political statements and various appeals will follow. But the very fact of interest in this topic is a positive signal," Beglaryan told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
He noted that to date, "not a single international organization has been able to visit Nagorno-Karabakh to monitor the preservation of Armenian cultural heritage due to Azerbaijan's ban." "At least if there had been such a visit, there would have been information," Beglaryan noted. He also noted that the UK is not the first country to raise issues regarding Nagorno-Karabakh after 2023; the parliaments of France and Switzerland have previously done so.
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (Artsakh) is an unrecognized state on territory that for several decades was the scene of interethnic clashes and conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the fall of 1991, the NKR declared its independence, and in September 2023, it declared its dissolution, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "The Beginning and End of the Unrecognized Republic of Artsakh".
The Hay Dat Committee office in Yerevan expressed hope that the UK Parliament will not limit itself to an investigation and study, but will also "take significant action to prevent vandalism and hold those responsible accountable for its actions." Representatives of the organization submitted evidence to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regarding Azerbaijan's systematic destruction of Armenian Christian cultural and ecclesiastical heritage in Karabakh. They called on the commission to include Azerbaijan in its list of "countries of particular concern." "This will provide an opportunity to more closely monitor the persecution of Armenians, facilitate efforts to free Armenian prisoners, and condemn the documented destruction of Christian heritage," a representative of the organization told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
One of the most recent documented instances of monument destruction in Nagorno-Karabakh is the destruction of a memorial complex in the town of Martuni dedicated to those who perished in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 and the Karabakh wars. According to a video published on Facebook*, the complex has been completely destroyed. Additionally, "the complete destruction of an Armenian cemetery in the village of Khnapat in the Askeran region" was recorded, the office of the National Historical and Cultural Organization told the Caucasian Knot correspondent.
"The memorial complex, opened on May 7, 2007, symbolized the unity of memory of heroes of different generations: from the victims of World War II to the soldiers who gave their lives for the independence of Artsakh." "Today, this complex no longer exists: it has been completely demolished, as is clearly visible in the video," the organization noted.
The organization's representatives consider Azerbaijan's election to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2025 unacceptable amid the ongoing destruction of Armenian monuments in Karabakh. Azerbaijan's policy of eliminating Armenian identity, historical memory, and the civilizational presence of Armenians in the region "is not a collection of isolated episodes, but represents a clear program," they emphasized.
Artsakh's (Nagorno-Karabakh's) Cultural Heritage Ombudsman, Hovik Avanesov, noted that the systematic destruction and distortion of Armenian cultural and historical heritage "does not promote reconciliation but rather fosters a climate of impunity."
"This is not a matter of isolated incidents, but of a systemic policy directed against historic churches, monasteries, khachkars, memorial complexes, cemeteries, and other sites that are part of collective memory and have universal value. Such actions are aimed not only at the physical destruction of sites, but also at erasing historical memory and altering the territory's identity. One of the largest acts of cultural destruction of the 21st century is being committed in Artsakh. When leaders are internationally encouraged to continue to wage acts against cultural heritage, a dangerous precedent is being created." "If 'peace' implies not only a ceasefire but also the protection of human rights, historical justice, and cultural heritage, then the current situation does not meet these criteria. Peace cannot be built on destroyed cemeteries and desecrated shrines," Avanesov said.
According to him, "international independent monitoring, a legal assessment of the situation, and the application of accountability mechanisms are necessary to prevent further destruction of cultural heritage in the region."
Azerbaijan's actions and the international community's lack of response to them "raise serious questions about the preservation of heritage and respect for historical values," noted Artak Mkrtchyan, a public figure and member of the youth council of the Martuni district of Nagorno-Karabakh. "The destruction of cultural heritage is not only a moral issue but also a violation of international norms." "The international community's less-than-harsh actions in such cases can be perceived as a form of consent," Mkrtchyan said.
After the exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh, more than 6,000 historical, spiritual, architectural, and natural monuments of the Armenian people were threatened with destruction, recalled former Nagorno-Karabakh Minister of Culture Lernik Hovhannisyan. He listed some of the destroyed sites: the Kanach Zham Church in Shushi, the St. Hambardzum Church in Berdzor, the St. Sarkis Church in the village of Mokhrenes in the Hadrut region, the Surb Astvatsatsin Church in Mariamazor, several settlements and memorial complexes, the historic quarter, and buildings in Stepanakert.
"Azerbaijan ignores all international conventions, including UNESCO conventions. Information about the destroyed monuments can be found from open sources on the internet or satellite images, but these facts alone indicate the extensive scale of vandalism. By destroying the Armenian cultural heritage and the historical landscape of Artsakh, Azerbaijan aims to deprive us of our identity and the possibility of return,” he concluded.