Karabakh activists considered the visit of diplomats a legitimization of the destruction of cultural heritage.
The visit of diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan to the territory of Karabakh is illegal, and such visits allow Azerbaijan to continue its policy of cultural genocide, say representatives of Nagorno-Karabakh.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 6, activists announced the destruction of the Armenian-Russian cemetery in Karabakh, and in May, the organization Caucasus Heritage Watch reported based on satellite images the destruction of a memorial in Stepanakert dedicated to the centenary of the Armenian genocide. Karabakh historians and activists have repeatedly stated that the Azerbaijani authorities are destroying historical buildings and memorials; in Baku, they insist that Christian monuments are protected by the state.
Representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan visited Shusha (Azerbaijani name - Shusha - note from "Caucasian Knot") as part of a two-day visit to Nagorno-Karabakh, writes Report.az
The Ombudsman for Cultural Heritage of Artsakh Ovik Avanesov pointed out that representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations should not welcome what is happening, "but prevent the policy of cultural genocide that the Armenian historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh is subjected to."
In his opinion, foreign diplomats visiting Artsakh as part of official events "demonstrate public recognition of what is happening, which effectively gives the Azerbaijani authorities additional political carte blanche." "Such visits create a sense of impunity and can be perceived by Baku as permission to continue the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage," Avanesov noted.
The Ombudsman emphasized that "the numerous recorded cases of destruction, alteration of the appearance, and desecration of Armenian historical and architectural monuments indicate that cultural genocide in Artsakh is not a thing of the past; this process continues."
Against the backdrop of the destruction of Armenian monuments, international representatives with their visits effectively demonstrate the absence of consequences for Azerbaijan.
"If the international community is truly intent on stopping cultural genocide, it must move from documenting facts to concrete actions: demanding unhindered international access to monuments, ensuring independent monitoring of their condition, striving to preserve objects, and holding accountable those who carry out their destruction or give political permission for it. It is not enough to limit oneself to protocol statements, resolutions, and reports. And against the backdrop of the destruction of Armenian monuments, international representatives with their visits effectively demonstrate the absence of consequences for Azerbaijan. The international community is responsible not only for documenting already committed destructions but also for preventing further crimes against cultural heritage. Today, international structures must clearly define their position: either they become a real mechanism for the protection of cultural heritage, or by their inaction and such visits, they allow Azerbaijan to continue its policy of cultural genocide," Avanesov stated.
"Participation in such visits means not just visiting the territory — it risks becoming part of a political and propaganda narrative in which the expulsion of the Armenian population is presented as a 'victory' and 'liberation'," wrote in an open letter to diplomatic representatives active in Armenia, the chairman of the public organization "Agency for the Development of Tourism and Culture of Artsakh" Sergey Shahverdyan.
"Today, at the site of the homes of deported Armenians, diplomats are photographed in the so-called 'Victory Park', while Armenian hostages continue to be in Azerbaijani prisons. When visiting Stepanakert, (Azerbaijani name - Khankendi - note from "Caucasian Knot") diplomats should ask: where are its former residents? When visiting Gandzasar and Dadivank, they should ask what is happening to their Armenian identity and heritage? When visiting Shusha, they should ask what happened to the Armenian churches, museums, and cultural monuments? This especially applies to representatives of France, Russia, and the USA — countries that have been co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for decades and participated in seeking a peaceful resolution to the Karabakh conflict," Shahverdyan noted.
He stated that "every diplomatic visit, every photograph, and every official gesture has political significance."
A just world cannot be built on the oblivion of displaced persons, the erasure of their heritage, and silence about those detained in Azerbaijan.
"A just world cannot be built on the oblivion of displaced persons, the erasure of their heritage, and silence about those detained in Azerbaijan. We cannot allow the consequences of ethnic cleansing to turn into a tourist route," Sergey Shahverdyan stated.
"Representatives of the states co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group are visiting Nagorno-Karabakh today, participating in various events. And this is happening after many years when they gave hope to the people living in Artsakh, stating that the conflict has no military solution," noted the public and political figure of Nagorno-Karabakh Tigran Petrosyan.
He expressed the belief that "both the USA, Russia, and France, along with the European Union, could have restrained Azerbaijan and forced it not to start a war, but for one reason or another, this was not done." At the same time, in his opinion, many issues are being hushed up by these countries, and there is not even talk of internationally recognized rights of Karabakh residents, of compensation for lost property, so that these people could have the opportunity to stand on their feet and start rebuilding their lives.
"Therefore, it is not surprising that today representatives of these states are visiting Nagorno-Karabakh. This is the current big politics. But from this, it is necessary to draw a conclusion: if even after everything that has happened, the concept of 'peace' allows such an attitude towards the fate of an entire nation, then this 'peace' also has its expiration date," Petrosyan noted.
He added that "the history of recent years shows that mere promises and diplomatic statements are not enough."
"Peace must not just be the absence of war - it must imply responsibility, protection of people's rights, and resolution of the consequences of the conflict. Otherwise, unresolved issues inevitably retain the potential for new crises," the activist noted.
On September 19-20, 2023, Azerbaijan conducted large-scale military operations in Karabakh, after which an agreement was reached to cease hostilities and disarm the Karabakh Defense Army. As of January 1, 2024, the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh ceased to exist in accordance with the decree of its last president Samvel Shahramanyan. "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a reference "The Beginning and End of the Unrecognized Republic of Artsakh".