After the 44-day Artsakh war of 2020, the complete occupation of Artsakh in 2023 and the forced deportation of Artsakh Armenians, Azerbaijan continues to target and destroy the Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh at the state level.
Memorials dedicated to the victims of the Artsakh Liberation War (Shushi, Stepanakert, Askeran, Martun, Martakert, etc.), statues and busts of heroes (Alek Manukyan, Charles Aznavour, Hovhannes Baghramyan, Anatoli Zinevich, Vazgen Sargsyan, Tatul Krpeyan, Hovhannes Isakov, etc.) are especially at risk. ), memorials dedicated to the memory of the victims of the genocide, Armenian historical cemeteries (Shushi historical cemetery, Mets Tagheri, the old cemetery called Ghazanchetsots, Sghnak historical cemetery, etc.), churches and monastic complexes (Berdzor Holy Ascension, Shushi Green Hour, Mekhakavan Saint Astvatsatsin Church, etc. ), the cultural monuments created during the period of independence. Along with the physical destruction, Azerbaijan continues to denigrate and present the cultural monuments (Gtchavank, Amaras, Gandzasar, Dadivank, etc.) as orthodox, depriving them of Armenian identity. geghard-saf.am writes about this.
International responses from the 44-day Artsakh war to the forced deportation of Artsakh Armenians The current cultural genocide has received certain responses from international cultural protection structures. Still during the 44-day war, in order to protect cultural heritage and prevent cultural genocide, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia and Artsakh (the Ministries of the Republic of Artsakh operated until January 2024, were disbanded after the complete depopulation of Artsakh) regularly appealed to the international structures: UNESCO, International Council of Museums (ICOM), World Monuments Fund (WMF), International Council for the Preservation of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Blue Shield International Organization (BSI), International Research Center for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) ), the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Zones (ALIPH), so that the latter respond, intervene, prevent the destruction, dishonor and distortion of the Artsakh cultural heritage. by researchers.
In particular, on October 16, 2020, a number of famous scientists, including N. Chomsky, G. Ch. Spivak, T. Alin, V. Berberyan, J. Herman, C. West, S. Benhabib and others published an open letter, calling for an end to the human and cultural massacre, noting the danger of Artsakh's cultural heritage and the imperative to protect that heritage by the international community.
However, emphasizing the opinion and attitude of the scientific community, let us emphasize that international structures have more serious mechanisms and levers of influence on the Azerbaijani propaganda machine. Thus, on November 20, 2020, the Director General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, made a statement, expressing readiness to send technical support and a mission to Artsakh in order to outline the necessary steps towards the preservation and familiarization of the historical, cultural and religious heritage, but until now, Azerbaijan has not given its consent. :
In 2023, Audrey Azoulay again reaffirmed UNESCO's request to enter Artsakh and monitor the cultural heritage situation. Azerbaijan rejected the request, categorically forbidding international structures to "interfere in the internal affairs of its country". The International Council on Monuments and Landmarks (ICOMOS) has issued several statements condemning the destruction of Armenian heritage in Artsakh, particularly the medieval Armenian churches, monasteries and khachkars.
Such actions are a violation of international cultural heritage conventions (including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict). The joint statement of ICOMOS, ICOM and ISA on stopping the cultural genocide in Artsakh also remained unanswered.
The European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) also joined the calls to preserve Artsakh's cultural heritage. The latter noted that the destruction of archaeological sites and cultural monuments is a serious violation of international law, and emphasized the importance of impartial assessments by independent experts. Genocide experts and human rights organizations, including Genocide Watch, condemned Azerbaijan's actions, stating that The destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh is part of the pattern of erasing the Armenian historical presence from the region.
According to them, the intentional targeting of churches and other symbols of Armenian identity is cultural genocide, as it seeks to destroy the cultural heritage of a group, being a precursor to physical genocide. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has warned about cultural destruction in Artsakh. The latter drew parallels with other cases of cultural genocide, such as the destruction of cultural sites in the former Yugoslavia, operations carried out during the occupation of ISIS in Syria.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported on the destruction of cultural sites as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, calling on Azerbaijani authorities to be held accountable for the destruction and vandalism of cultural heritage at the state level. The report emphasizes that international law (including the Geneva Conventions) prohibits the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage during armed conflicts. HRW called on the international structures to prevent further damage and bring the culprits to justice. Thus, it is obvious that the international structures, with continuous appeals and adopting resolutions, are trying to restrain the Azerbaijani ambitions of destroying and usurping the Armenian heritage. However, it is a fact that these appeals are not enough. Directed and concrete steps are needed by the international structures so that it is possible to prevent the culture-killing policy of Azerbaijan.
