Artsakh heritage ombudsman demands international action against Azerbaijani destruction

YEREVAN – The Office of the Ombudsman for the Cultural Heritage of Artsakh has called on UNESCO and other international organizations to take immediate, concrete measures to protect Armenian cultural and religious monuments under Azerbaijani control.

In an October 28 statement, the office announced that detailed documentation had been submitted to UNESCO World Heritage Centre Director Lazare Eloundou Assomo and Deputy Director Jyoti Hosagrahar.

The evidence concerns documented cases of destruction, damage, appropriation and distortion of the Armenian historical identity of Artsakh’s cultural heritage since the 2020 war.

The materials address threats to churches, monasteries, khachkars, cemeteries, memorial complexes and other monuments representing centuries of Armenian presence in the region.

The Ombudsman’s Office sharply criticized the international community’s continued inaction, warning that expressions of concern are insufficient to prevent irreversible cultural losses.

It called for independent monitoring missions, unrestricted access for professional experts, transparent documentation of damage, preventive measures and appropriate legal accountability.

Following the forced displacement of Artsakh’s Armenian population in 2023, the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage has become an increasingly urgent international responsibility.

The destruction or alteration of monuments is not merely a question of damaged buildings. It threatens the historical record and cultural identity of a people forcibly separated from their ancestral homeland.

Despite international commitments to cultural heritage protection, effective monitoring and enforcement remain inadequate.

The Armenian government must also ensure that the protection of Artsakh’s heritage is not sidelined in its negotiations with Azerbaijan.

Safeguarding these monuments, pursuing accountability and defending the rights of displaced Artsakh Armenians must remain inseparable elements of any credible and lasting regional peace.