Images: Azerbaijan Destroys Memorial Next to Khachatur Abovian School in Shushi

Monument Watch reports that Azerbaijan has demolished a memorial (see photo 1) located behind the Khachatur Abovian School in Shushi. The memorial was dedicated to the fallen fighters Vardan and Vahan Garibyan in the First Karabakh War.

According to the oral testimony of Vardan and Vahan Garibyan's brother, Gevorg Garibyan, the memorial was erected by the brothers' father and their combat friends (see photo 2). The architect of the monument and the author of the sculptures was Edik Gyulnazaryan. It was constructed between 1994 and 1995.

The memorial was faced with basalt slabs and featured two niches. Attached to the niches were plaques, one of which indicated who the memorial was dedicated to (see photo 3), while the other listed the names of the brothers' combat friends (see photo 4). The center of the memorial is arched, with a notable inscription from the historian Yeghishe engraved under the arch: 'Death known is immortality, death unknown is death.'

Inside the arch, a stylized crucifix was placed, adorned with floral and geometric decorations on both sides. Below these, stylized rosaceous designs were present, from which water flowed. We can see that the Azerbaijani side continues its process of erasing all traces of Armenian identity in Shushi, with memorials dedicated to Armenian fighters being a primary target.