Any delay or feigned response by the international community encourages the continuation of such crimes. statement

Joint statement of Artsakh cultural heritage ombudsman office, “Artsakh cultural and tourism development agency”, “Kachar” scientific center NGO and “Azkayin” historical and cultural NGO

The actions of the Azerbaijani authorities have long gone beyond the limits of damage caused by individual vandalism or military operations. They have turned into a complete strategy, the key goal of which is the complete erasure of the Armenian cultural presence in Artsakh. This policy includes the desecration and dismantling of churches and monasteries, the destruction of khachkars and cemeteries, the deliberate destruction of historical monuments, Ambodian settlements and residential districts, as well as the falsification of cultural heritage: “limestone”, “Ughalization”, “Islamization”.

It is noteworthy that the destruction of cultural values ​​is accompanied by systematic distortion of history, falsification of facts and propaganda carried out to mislead the international community. This is not only a cultural, but also an ideological war, the aim of which is to erase the traces of Armenian identity and rewrite the history of the region.

We clearly record that this policy implemented in the territory of Artsakh should be qualified as one of the biggest cultural genocides of the 21st century, which is aimed at destroying not only the material heritage, but also the historical memory and identity of the entire people.

These actions of Azerbaijan grossly violate the fundamental norms of international law, including the international conventions on the protection of cultural heritage, as well as the principles of preservation of universal values ​​of humanity.

Silence and inaction in such conditions become a form of complicity.

We strongly request:
– immediate and independent fact-finding missions from international organizations in the territories of Artsakh,
– a clear and targeted response from UNESCO and other specialized structures,
– from states and international structures, applying political and legal mechanisms to Azerbaijan in order to prevent the cultural genocide and establish responsibility,
– From the authorities of RA to consistently speak out on all international platforms about the cultural genocide carried out by Azerbaijan at the state level in the temporarily occupied Artsakh, to ensure the proper presentation of the issue in international organizations and political agendas, as well as to take effective and systematic steps in the direction of preserving and protecting Artsakh’s cultural heritage and ensuring its protection through international legal mechanisms.

We also emphasize that the destruction of cultural heritage is not only a denial of the past, but also a crime against the future. It aims at depriving generations of their historical roots and undermining the possibilities of mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence between peoples.

In this context, any delay or formal response by the international community encourages the continuation of such crimes. Cultural genocide cannot be considered as a secondary or local problem. it is a global threat to the preservation of cultural heritage.
The cultural heritage of Artsakh is a universal value, and its destruction is a blow to all humanity.

We call to unite to prevent this catastrophic process and ensure the restoration of historical justice.

PS: The photo shows Hovhannes Mkrtich Church (Green Hour) in the city of Shushi temporarily occupied by Azerbaijan, which was completely destroyed by the Azerbaijani authorities between December 28, 2023 and April 4, 2024. The mentioned action is assessed as a gross violation of the December 2021 decision of the International Court of Justice of the United Nations.