Provocative Disinformation: Azerbaijani Embassy's Claims of Armenian 'Attacks' on Russian Church in Artsakh are False, Says Armenian Embassy in Greece

The Armenian Embassy in Greece has issued a statement, which we present in full below.

“Artsakh has always prided itself on the religious and cultural monuments located within its territory, considering them part of its historical and cultural heritage. The people of Artsakh are also attentive to the preservation of Russian religious and cultural heritage monuments.

It is noteworthy that the state budget of the Republic of Artsakh allocates funds annually for the preservation and restoration of cultural monuments. This area of preservation, study, and use of cultural monuments is one of the most important and distinctive sectors of the history and culture of the Republic of Artsakh.

The Russian Church of the Holy Mother of God is located in the Gevorgavan area of the Martuni district in the Republic of Artsakh. The church was built over 100 years ago by immigrants from Russia. It is made of limestone and has a yellowish exterior. It has two entrances opening from the western and northern sides, with more than twenty windows. The parishioners of the church were Russian settlers. Restoration works on the church began in 1989 but were interrupted due to the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh, during which the church suffered significant damage.

Before the war of 2020, the government of the Republic of Artsakh was developing a project for the restoration of the church and was searching for a sponsor to commence the restoration works.

Thus, a certain Anastasia Lavrin and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Greece, with their Greek translation, disseminated propaganda material about the alleged 'attacks' by the Armenian side on the Russian Orthodox cultural heritage in the territory of the Republic of Artsakh. This constitutes yet another piece of provocative, baseless, and false misinformation, aimed at inciting hatred against Armenians and attempting to undermine and sow discord in the relations between Armenia and its allies. A country that deliberately destroys cultural monuments tries to cover up numerous acts of vandalism it has committed with unfounded accusations.

In this regard, it is significant to note that on December 7, the International Court of Justice of the United Nations issued decisions regarding urgent measures presented by Armenia against Azerbaijan within the framework of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Among other measures, the Court ENJOINED Azerbaijan to 'take all necessary measures to prevent the incitement and promotion of racial hatred and discrimination targeting ethnic Armenians, including by Azerbaijani officials and state institutions.' On the other hand, the Court obliges Azerbaijan to 'take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration directed against Armenian cultural heritage, including churches and other places of worship, monuments, sites, cemeteries, and artifacts.'

Despite the decisions of the International Court of Justice, Azerbaijani officials continue to spread targeted racial hatred and take no steps to halt the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage.”