Participants in a social media discussion placed the "We Are Our Mountains" monument in the context of the Baku-Yerevan peace talks.
If Azerbaijani authorities decide to remove the "We Are Our Mountains" monument in Karabakh, this could impact peace talks with Armenia, which are in their final stages, participants in a social media discussion indicated.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on June 22, the Office of the Cultural Heritage Ombudsman and the Nagorno-Karabakh Culture and Tourism Development Agency stated that the information about Azerbaijanis demolishing the "We Are Our Mountains" monument in Stepanakert has not been confirmed. The image showing the demolition process was generated using artificial intelligence. Official Baku and the Armenian opposition have extracted political benefits from the unsubstantiated publication about the monument's demolition in Stepanakert, Armenian political scientists believe. On June 26, Baku-based analysts pointed out Azerbaijan's right to decide the monument's fate. They noted that the "We Are Our Mountains" monument was erected in Karabakh when it was part of the Azerbaijan SSR.
In previous discussions of the "We Are Our Mountains" monument, commentators predominantly took radical positions. On June 27, two posts on this topic were published on the "Caucasian Knot" Facebook page*. The discussions in the comments were notable for the fact that the number of comments themselves several times increased. Users with moderate views joined the discussion.
Commentators recalled the ongoing peace agreement process.
A post about analysts' assertion of Azerbaijan's right to decide the fate of the "We Are Our Mountains" monument was published on June 27 on the Caucasian Knot Facebook page*, which has approximately 162,000 subscribers. As of 1:00 PM Moscow time on June 29, the post had garnered 216 likes and 462 comments. Most of the comments emphasized Azerbaijan's right to decide for itself whether to remove the monument. However, some users pointed out that demolition during the peace agreement process would be inappropriate.
"[Azerbaijan] has the right to demolish it. But there's one thing. If we're now at the stage of a peace treaty [with Armenia] and have a prospect of peaceful coexistence and good-neighborly relations with Armenians, then this shouldn't be done. This isn't just a monument for Armenians, but something sacred and holy. This would make us look unfavorable in the eyes of all Armenians, and perhaps not only Armenians, but others as well. We could bring in Azerbaijani sculptors and restore this monument, changing it slightly. Add an Azerbaijani flavor. Keep the title "We and Our Mountains," include the names of the Azerbaijani sculptors, and the date," believes Gorhmaz Abdullayev.
"If the monument was built when the territory was Azerbaijani, and the budget was also Azerbaijani, the architect dedicated the structure to the local "If it's a monument to the long-lived, then why demolish it? The climate there is excellent, there are and will be long-lived people. But there's a chance that as long as this monument stands there, some will think it's Armenian territory and there will be confrontation," wrote Rob Mai.
"The monument should be demolished, and symbols of the heroism of the Azerbaijani soldier should be erected in its place. But this is strictly my opinion. The final decision is up to the country's leadership, not the readers," noted Samir Samirov.
"I really like this monument. It's a kind of symbol of modern Azerbaijani Karabakh with its long-lived people, a kind of sign of respect to all the grandparents," wrote Dmitry Michiev.
"I like it too. And I don't associate it with any particular nation, but with Caucasian long-lived people in general. "An unusual and authentic monument for Karabakh," replied Larisa Grigorieva.
"Azerbaijan has the right to demolish the monument... But do we always exercise our rights? And what are we talking about rights to? Demolishing a monument doesn't require much courage," pointed out Aydin Akhund.
The "We Are Our Mountains" monument is one of the symbols of Artsakh and the entire Armenian cultural heritage of the region. The monument was built in 1967 at the entrance to the city of Stepanakert. Its authors are sculptor and People's Artist of the Armenian SSR Sarkis Baghdasaryan and architect Yuri Hakobyan, according to the Armenian Museum's website.
Another post about the "We Are Our Mountains" monument was published on the Caucasian Knot Facebook page* also on June 27. As of 1:00 PM Moscow time on June 29, this post had garnered 560 likes and 945 comments. Most of the authors took a radical stance, demanding the monument's removal. However, some commenters expressed a moderate view.
"We Are Our Mountains" is a monument to the peaceful labor and longevity of the people who have lived on this land for centuries. Stones and sculptures do not wage war or participate in politics. "Let's preserve culture to prove that we strive for lasting peace, not destruction," wrote Կարեն Մարդանյան.
"I believe that among the two nations, there will still be adequate people who will stand up for peace. We must learn to live on. The destruction of monuments is weakness," noted Shushanik Avetisyan.
"This monument was created in 1967 with funds from the Azerbaijan SSR and was dedicated to the longevity of the people of Karabakh. It symbolized the people who lived on this land, and not the monument's belonging exclusively to one nation. "Karabakh has always been a land where representatives of different nationalities have lived for many generations, and historical facts should not be replaced by political interpretations," said Akif Mirsiyaboglu.
Cases of destruction of monuments and memorials are regularly recorded in Karabakh.
Historians and activists have repeatedly reported the destruction of historical buildings and memorial structures in Karabakh. This applies to medieval sites, 20th-century sites, and Soviet-era sites.
For example, in November 2020, Azerbaijan accused the Armenian side of desecrating and destroying Muslim cemeteries and mosques. In particular, according to a statement by the Azerbaijani authorities, the Mamar Mosque in the Gubadli region was turned into a pigsty. – an 18th-century monument.
In December 2025, a video of destruction inside the Yerits Mankants Monastery appeared on Azerbaijani social media, and satellite images also show the destruction of the Holy Savior Monastery, both dating back to the 17th century.
According to the Caucasus Heritage Watch organization, based on satellite images, the memorial to the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, erected in Stepanakert, was destroyed.
On May 4, 2025, activists of Artsakh Monuments stated that the Azerbaijani authorities destroyed monuments to those killed during the Great Patriotic War in the village of Vank, a khachkar and a stele in Memory of the heroes of the Karabakh conflict.
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 Karabakh had been completely destroyed. The church was built in the 1990s and therefore is not a historical monument protected by Azerbaijani law, Baku objected.