Video: This belongs to Armenians, everything here belongs to Armenians, we have taken it. The ombudsman will present this case to international bodies

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, published a video on his Facebook page showing how Azerbaijani soldiers (with a Turkish flag visibly present on their uniforms) cynically desecrate the Armenian church of St. Yeghishe in Mataghis, clearly demonstrating the deliberate disrespect towards the church while being fully aware that it is Armenian.

"This is the Armenian church of St. Yeghishe in Mataghis, Artsakh (19th century). Azerbaijani soldiers (with a Turkish flag visibly present on their uniforms) in this video cynically desecrate the Armenian church, clearly showcasing the deliberate act of disrespect while knowing fully well that the church is Armenian. In the video, they say the following:

Before entering the church: 'Come on, let's enter their (referring to Armenians) church, where I have already prayed.'
After entering the church: 'This belongs to Armenians, everything here belongs to Armenians, we have taken it.'

It is evident that this act is openly motivated by ethnic and religious hatred. Moreover, this is not an isolated incident but a result of a systemic policy of hatred and enmity that has been ongoing in Azerbaijan for years and continues to this day.

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia will present this case to international bodies, indicating that it is another proof that a policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide against Armenians took place in Artsakh during September-November 2020.

P.S. Thanks to Father Vahram (Vahram Melikyan) for assisting in identifying the church, and to Mariam Melkonyan, a lecturer at Yerevan State University’s Faculty of Oriental Studies, for her assistance in accurate translation," the statement from the ombudsman reads.