Azerbaijan severely damages cultural landscapes in Artsakh

Satellite observations from Google Earth indicate that Azerbaijan has caused significant damage to the cultural landscapes of several settlements in Artsakh. One such example is Taghut village in Hadrut region, where about 25% of the houses visible in 2019 satellite images were already destroyed by June 2023, according to Monument Watch.

The destruction of residential homes in Taghut is a consequence of looting by Azerbaijani forces occupying the area. These actions are carried out mainly by stationed military personnel, a certain number of settlers, and construction crews. Hundreds of videos from Artsakh document the widespread nature of intentional property destruction, demolitions, and looting.

This pattern is observed in many settlements across Artsakh, including Taghut, Togh, Mariamadzor, as well as other villages previously reported by the Monument Watch initiative.

Notably, this destruction differs from Azerbaijan’s systematic eradication of Armenian cultural heritage. The latter is conducted with heavy machinery and follows a targeted approach. Examples include the demolition of Armenian settlements (Karin Tak, historic districts of Stepanakert), destruction of churches (Shushi, Berdzor, Tandzatap), eradication of cemeteries (Shushi’s Ghazanchetsots old cemetery), and damage to monuments (the Hadrut Memorial for World War II victims, the Great and Lesser Syunik memorial complex).

The looting and destruction of civilian infrastructure, homes, and cultural heritage in Taghut village by Azerbaijan constitute a flagrant violation of international law and a war crime. Article 33 of the 1949 Geneva Convention IV explicitly prohibits pillage under any circumstances.

Article 47 of the 1907 Hague Convention on the Laws and Customs of War on Land explicitly states: “Pillage is formally prohibited.” Additionally, Article 4(2) of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict mandates that states must prevent, prohibit, and stop the looting, theft, appropriation, and acts of vandalism against cultural property.