The Issue of Preserving Cultural Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh Discussed with Both Baku and Yerevan: Zakharova

Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, responded to a question from an Armenian journalist during her weekly briefing, which pertained to the preservation of cultural heritage in Artsakh.

The journalist noted that the Azerbaijani authorities, under the guise of so-called "renovation works," have removed the dome of the Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi, aiming to undermine the church's Armenian architectural appearance. Additionally, Azerbaijani authorities have violated United Nations Security Council resolutions by raising unscientific theses regarding Armenian churches in Artsakh.

When asked about Russia's response to these events as a co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, Zakharova stated, "The issue of preserving cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas is regularly discussed in our communications with both official Baku and official Yerevan. In particular, it was addressed during the working visits of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Armenia and Azerbaijan in the first half of May. We advocate for the prompt organization of a UNESCO mission in the region and are working within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmanship. The statement adopted by the co-chairs on April 13 of this year highlights that 'the preservation and protection of religious and cultural heritage is among the issues that require additional efforts from both Azerbaijan and Armenia.'