Senior UNESCO official says she is unaware of reports of Armenian church destruction in Artsakh

A senior UNESCO official has said she is unaware of reported cases involving the destruction of Armenian churches in Artsakh, raising further concerns over international efforts to safeguard the region’s endangered cultural heritage.

Jyoti Hosagrahar, Deputy Director of UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, made the remarks on October 26 during an international gathering at the Matenadaran in Yerevan.

Questioned by News.am about reports of damage and destruction affecting Armenian religious monuments in Artsakh, Hosagrahar said she could not comment because she was unfamiliar with the cases.

When the journalist raised additional reports of vandalism, she ended the exchange, saying she had to leave.

Her response has renewed questions about the international community’s awareness of the threats facing Armenian cultural and religious sites in territories now controlled by Azerbaijan.

Since the forced displacement of Artsakh’s Armenian population in September 2023, concerns have persisted over the future of historic churches, monasteries, cemeteries and other monuments central to the region’s Armenian identity.

The preservation of these sites remains an urgent issue, particularly as independent international access and verification continue to present challenges.

The remarks do not establish UNESCO’s institutional position, but they highlight the need for greater transparency, monitoring and concrete international engagement to safeguard Artsakh’s Armenian cultural heritage.