Azerbaijan Systematically Destroys Armenian Cultural Heritage in Artsakh

Azerbaijan has persistently destroyed Armenian cultural monuments, churches, and memorials in the territories under its control. Following the 44-day war, this criminal behavior has become more widespread. According to Armenpress, in recent times, various pieces of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh have also been destroyed by Azerbaijani vandals.

There are destroyed and defiled churches and monuments across all regions. Among them are the Holy Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi, the Green Church, and the Holy Sarkis Church in the village of Mkhrenis in Hadrut, which has been completely demolished. The Holy Resurrection Church in Berdzor has been turned into a mosque.

The atrocities committed by Azerbaijanis are attributed to explicit orders from the Azerbaijani leadership to destroy and obliterate anything Armenian. If their most significant monuments cannot be eliminated openly, they are presented as non-Armenian. This is, in fact, a continuation of a policy aimed at erasing any Armenian trace in the territories under their control, similar to what was done in Nakhchivan, where today not a single Armenian church, cultural monument, or inscription remains.

The examples provided below are the best evidence of this claim. One of the most egregious cases of vandalism is the Vankasar Church in the Martakert region, which is located on the road from Stepanakert to Martakert. The Azerbaijani Experience Azerbaijan account recently published a video showing how the cross on the dome was removed from the church.