Iconic Artsakh Mamik-Papik monument demolition reports not confirmed

(Horizon Media / YEREVAN) — Reports circulating on social media alleging that Azerbaijan has begun demolishing the iconic “We Are Our Mountains” monument (Mamik-Papik in Stepanakert remain unverified, according to a joint statement issued by the Office of the Ombudsman for the Cultural Heritage of Artsakh and the Artsakh Cultural and Tourism Development Agency.

The organizations said a photograph shared widely online in recent hours has been accompanied by claims that construction equipment is being used to destroy the monument, one of Artsakh’s most important national and cultural symbols. However, they stressed that the authenticity of the image, the location and time it was taken, and whether it reflects an actual event are still being examined.

“At this stage, the information has not been confirmed,” the statement said, urging the public, media outlets, civil society groups and social media users to avoid spreading unverified material until reliable evidence is available.

The statement emphasized that information concerning cultural heritage must be handled with particular care and should be published only after careful fact-checking, based on credible sources such as satellite imagery, verified photographs or other dependable documentation.

The organizations warned that unconfirmed reports involving major symbols of Armenian identity can have a deep psychological impact on forcibly displaced Artsakh Armenians and the wider Armenian public, intensifying fear, grief and uncertainty.

They also cautioned that the spread of unverified information can create additional risks for cultural sites themselves by drawing unnecessary attention to monuments and potentially increasing the likelihood of vandalism, damage or destruction.

The statement criticized the use of sensitive cultural and national issues to drive online engagement, views and shares, saying such practices run against responsible information standards, professional ethics and the public interest.

The Office of the Ombudsman and the Cultural and Tourism Development Agency said they are continuing to review the matter carefully and will issue an official update if the information is confirmed or if new credible evidence emerges. They also said the disputed image would not be republished, given its potential psychological harm, particularly to displaced Artsakh Armenians.

The “We Are Our Mountains” monument, widely known as “Mamik and Papik” or “Grandma and Grandpa,” remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Artsakh. Created in 1967 by sculptor Sargis Baghdasaryan and architect Yuri Hakobyan, the red tuff monument stands on a hill near Stepanakert and represents the enduring bond between the people of Artsakh and their ancestral land.