''The cultural destruction carried out by Azerbaijan does not constitute a series of isolated incidents, but rather manifestations of a systematic policy''. Hovik Avanesov

Hovik Avanesov, Cultural Heritage Ombudsman of Artsakh: ''On 19 September 2023, the Turkish-Azerbaijani terrorist tandem launched yet another large-scale war against the Republic of Artsakh, which was under a complete blockade and facing a severe humanitarian crisis. This attack was not merely a military operation, but rather another and particularly devastating stage in the years-long policy of repression, ethnic cleansing, and systematic efforts aimed at the destruction of the national identity of the Armenians of Artsakh.
The targeting of the civilian population and publicly significant infrastructure by the Azerbaijani armed forces constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law. Violence against civilians, the destruction of residential areas, and the forcible displacement of the population cannot be justified by any political or military pretext, and responsibility for such actions cannot be neutralized through statements by the international community or diplomatic formalities.
As a consequence of the war, Artsakh was temporarily occupied, while the Armenian population of Artsakh was forcibly displaced from its millennia-old ancestral homeland. In depopulated Artsakh, the Baku regime continues a policy whose core objective is not limited to the occupation of the territory, but also encompasses the systematic erasure of the historical presence, cultural heritage, and national identity of the Armenian people.
? The cultural destruction carried out by Azerbaijan does not constitute a series of isolated incidents, but rather manifestations of a systematic policy.
Since 27 September 2020, the actions undertaken against the Armenian historical and cultural heritage of Artsakh have included numerous cases of the destruction, damage, alteration, and distortion of historical identity involving churches, khachkars, tombstones, cemeteries, residential districts, entire settlements, and cultural centres.
The cultural heritage of Artsakh must not be reduced to an instrument of political manipulation. Armenian churches, monuments, cemeteries, and historical settlements bear witness not only to the centuries-old presence of the Armenian people, but also to the development of human civilization as a whole. Their destruction or deliberate distortion of their identity undermines the fundamental principles governing the protection of international cultural heritage.
The scale of documented incidents and recorded violations provides grounds for asserting that Azerbaijan’s actions in Artsakh may be considered among the most serious manifestations of cultural genocide in the contemporary world.
The destruction of traces of the Armenian historical presence in Artsakh cannot be presented as cultural restoration, urban improvement, or an ordinary administrative process. The renaming of historical monuments, removal of Armenian inscriptions, encroachments upon cemeteries, and attempts to alter cultural identity require a clear international assessment and effective measures of response.
? The destruction of cultural heritage must be viewed not merely as damage to monuments of the past, but also as a policy aimed at restricting present and future generations’ access to their own historical memory and identity.
Every instance of the destruction or alteration of the identity of churches, khachkars, cemeteries, and historical settlements represents not only the loss of a tangible cultural asset, but also the erasure of historical evidence. Consequently, the protection of cultural heritage cannot be limited to the physical preservation of monuments; it must also encompass the preservation of their historical names, inscriptions, provenance, geographical context, and comprehensive documentary records relating to them.
? Ensuring independent and continuous international monitoring is of particular importance.
Access for international expert missions, monitoring through satellite and other technological means, professional documentation, preservation of archival materials, and the chronological recording of every alteration are essential not only for identifying processes taking place today, but also for establishing a comprehensive body of evidence that may be necessary for future legal proceedings.
It is essential to prevent a situation in which the international community becomes aware of the destruction of cultural heritage only after irreversible changes have already occurred. Prevention must constitute one of the fundamental principles of the international protection of cultural heritage.
? The disproportionate response of the international community and the continued inaction of international institutions are deserving of the strongest criticism.
At a time when the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh is facing the threat of destruction and irreversible alteration, the limitation of international institutions to merely ceremonial statements is no longer acceptable. Legal obligations cannot be replaced by empty appeals, nor can the international system for the protection of cultural heritage function only when doing so does not conflict with political interests.
The failure of international institutions to call documented actions by their proper names—including the avoidance of adequately assessing existing warnings concerning genocide and cultural genocide—deepens the danger of impunity. No state or regime should be allowed to conclude that the destruction of national, religious, or cultural heritage can occur without international legal consequences. Silence is not a neutral position when cases of the destruction of cultural heritage and violations of fundamental human rights have been documented.
? The response of the international community must move beyond the level of statements towards the implementation of genuine mechanisms of prevention, documentation, monitoring, and accountability.
The effectiveness of the international system for the protection of cultural heritage should be measured not only by its ability to respond to destruction that has already occurred, but also by its capacity to prevent further destruction. If documented violations do not result in legal, political, or other appropriate consequences, a dangerous precedent is created that may encourage the repetition of such actions in other conflict situations as well.
The protection of the cultural heritage of Artsakh, therefore, cannot be regarded solely as an issue confined to the context of the Azerbaijani-Artsakh conflict. It is an issue concerning international cultural heritage, human rights, freedom of religion, historical memory, and the protection of fundamental principles of international law.
The Office of the Ombudsman for the Cultural Heritage of Artsakh expects from the international community not another formal response, but clear, public, and practical measures aimed at:
? Ensuring independent international monitoring of historical and cultural heritage sites in Artsakh.
? Fully documenting and publicly recording cases of destruction, damage, and distortion of cultural identity.
? Applying available mechanisms of accountability within the framework of international law.
? Supporting professional and legal initiatives aimed at preserving the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh.
? Establishing independent expert reports and databases concerning changes carried out to the cultural heritage of Artsakh.
? Preserving and archiving evidence concerning actions undertaken against historical monuments, churches, cemeteries, and other cultural heritage sites.
? Ensuring opportunities for independent on-site assessment and the deployment of appropriate expert missions by international professional organizations.
? Preventing the destruction of cultural heritage and applying appropriate measures against those responsible.
It is necessary to put an end to the policy of formal condemnations. The authority of international law is measured not by the number of statements issued, but by the extent to which such statements are translated into genuine protection and accountability.
The destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh must not become a matter of historical oblivion. It requires a clear legal assessment, continuous international monitoring, and the application of appropriate measures against those responsible.
? The destruction of cultural heritage must not be allowed to take place under conditions of invisibility, while the erasure of historical facts gradually becomes transformed into a new “reality.”
Historical monuments can be destroyed within days or even hours, whereas their restoration is often impossible. For this reason, the response of the international community must be not retrospective, but preventive and effective.
The protection of the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh requires sustained international attention, professional documentation, independent monitoring, and the preservation of evidence necessary for potential legal proceedings. Historical memory cannot be protected through statements alone; it requires consistent action and institutional responsibility.
The protection of the historical memory and cultural identity of Artsakh is our responsibility, while it is the responsibility of the international community to ensure that the threat of cultural genocide does not become an enduring precedent of impunity.
The protection of the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh is not merely a matter of preserving the past. It is also a responsibility towards the future—to ensure that coming generations have the opportunity to know, study, and preserve their historical heritage''.