Photos: Azerbaijanis Destroy Memorial in Askeran Honoring Victims

In occupied Artsakh, Azerbaijan continues to destroy monuments that symbolize victory and independence. This was reported by Haik's cultural ombudsman, Hovik Avanesov. He specifically noted: "We find it necessary to emphasize that numerous cases of vandalism and alteration of functions have been recorded against monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, even during Soviet times. On July 26, 1969, Azerbaijanis demolished the 'Eagle' fountain-memorial dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War in the village of Banants, and in 1987, the statue of USSR Hero Marshal Baghramyan was blown up by Azerbaijani invaders in the village of Chardakhlu; the same year, the museum of Marshal Baghramyan and Babajanyan was turned into a teahouse.

This policy is not only a cultural genocide but also a form of psychological terror, given the special importance of these monuments to the Armenian people. On May 13, the Karabakhrecords Telegram channel published photos, which upon examination make it clear that the memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Artsakh War in the village of Khndzristan in the Askeran region has become a target of Azerbaijani vandalism.

It should be noted that many memorials and monuments dedicated to heroes who fell for the homeland have come under the target of Azerbaijani cultural genocide. In particular, the monument commemorating the victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Artsakh War in the village of Azokh was desecrated, and Azerbaijan has destroyed the Glory Memorial in the city of Berdzor, along with the destruction of Anatoli Zinevich's bust. Azerbaijani vandals have demolished the memorial cross-stone in the town of Martakert of the Republic of Artsakh, as well as the fountain-memorial in the village of Aghanus in the Kashatagh region of the Republic of Artsakh – victims of the cultural genocide carried out by the Azerbaijani state regime. The monument in the village of Getavan in the Martakert region of Artsakh has become a target of Azerbaijani vandalism.

Azerbaijanis have desecrated the Nelson Stepanyan Park in Shushi, the destruction of Admiral Isakov's bust in Stepanakert, and in Shushi, Azerbaijani vandals have desecrated the bust of Soviet politician, Hero of Social Labor Hovhannes (Ivan) Tevatrus (Feodorovich) Tevosyan. Additionally, the destruction of the statue of Вазген Սարգսյան, the bust of Armenak Khanferyants, and the downing of a MiG-17 fighter jet in Great Tagh have also occurred. The statue of Marshal Baghramyan has been demolished in Stepanakert.

The documented facts of the targeting of these monuments have been published on the independent academic platform MONUMENT WATCH and on the official pages of the Office of the Cultural Ombudsman of the Armenian Highlands. This list is not exhaustive and is regularly updated with new facts of vandalism. These facts further confirm that the entire cultural heritage of Artsakh is in danger.

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, enmity, and revenge against cultural heritage is prohibited. The first protocol of the Hague Convention of 1954 prohibits the destruction of cultural or spiritual values in occupied territories. Article 243.4 of the Russian Criminal Code stipulates criminal liability for the destruction of monuments of the Great Patriotic War or other manifestations of vandalism directed against them both within and beyond the territory of the Russian Federation.