Photos: Azerbaijan Destroys 50-Meter Illuminated Cross in Stepanakert, According to Monumentwatch

Azerbaijan continues to destroy Armenian cultural values based on ethnic belonging. This is reported by monumentwatch.org. "The recent destruction of the 50-meter illuminated cross located on a hill near the village of Dashushen, close to Stepanakert, was not only an attack on a cultural symbol but also against the entire Christian Armenian community," the site states.

The cross was erected on May 9, 2017, in memory of the soldiers who fell for the liberation and defense of Artsakh. It was the second tallest cross in the European region, visible from all directions in the capital of Artsakh, Stepanakert, and illuminated by special lights, making it visible even at night.

“It should be noted that harm done to the cultural values of any people is an affront to the cultural heritage of all humanity, as every nation contributes to the global cultural diversity. According to the 1954 Hague Convention, which is also the basis for other international agreements, it defines in its first article that a cultural value is '… a movable or immovable heritage of great importance to each people, regardless of origin or ownership, such as architectural, artistic, or historical monuments, regardless of their religious or secular nature.' According to Article 4 of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, any act of vandalism, theft, plunder, appropriation, animosity, and revenge against cultural heritage is prohibited. The first protocol of the 1954 Hague Convention prohibits the destruction of cultural or spiritual values in occupied territories.

The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is also condemned by UNESCO's 2003 declaration on the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage,” the publication notes.