Armenian Museums Instructed to Evacuate Artifacts, No Such Order for Artsakh: Gagik Ginosyan

The cultural losses are hard to quantify. Gagik Ginosyan, a public figure and head of the "Karin" traditional song and dance ensemble, stated this in an interview with Tert.am while discussing the cultural values lost in Artsakh.

“Historical churches were being reconstructed, excavations were conducted, churches were being built; we cannot count those values. During the war, the museums of the Republic of Armenia were instructed to evacuate artifacts, but there was no such order for Artsakh and Shushi; some museums remained in the hands of Azerbaijanis, and there was no command issued; no artifacts were evacuated,” he noted.

When asked about the trends he sees and why such actions were not taken, Ginosyan said, “Why did we lose the war? Why was there such panic? Why wasn’t there mobilization? These are all continuations of the questions of why, and the answers should come from the authorities of Armenia and Artsakh; they alone know the truth.”

Ginosyan emphasized that it is a cultural crime when a maternity hospital is bombed, or phosphorus bombs are released, and for all this, we have not approached the European Court of Human Rights. “This is clearly a disgrace for the nation, which has emerged to the surface. It was obvious that the defeat was premeditated; unfortunately, the facts are being concealed. Now, at least we can appeal to the Human Rights Court; it's already been almost four months since the war ended,” he said.

He pointed out that actions should have been taken earlier when UNESCO recognized the Khojaly heritage as Azerbaijani. “Culture can only be valued by those who carry it, and if the country’s authorities are anti-cultural figures who merely contribute to the destruction of national culture and promote anti-national manifestations, I do not think they will defend what we have. This has always been the case; at no time has culture been valued. Culture is valued not just by not leaving it in the hands of Turks, but when you don’t take your official guest to hear jazz but take them to hear the national culture. Today we need to speak out about tomorrow's losses, not just after losing,” he concluded.