Artsakh’s Cultural Heritage Ombudsman Hovik Avanesov has reported that Azerbaijani authorities have begun destroying Islamic monuments located in areas of Artsakh under their control, including the Shiite mosque in the village of Aygek, Kashatagh region.
In a Facebook post, Avanesov described the systematic destruction of cultural heritage in the region as “cultural genocide.” He noted that Azerbaijan, previously criticized for erasing Armenian heritage, is now targeting even Islamic monuments.
“One of the most alarming examples of this is the complete destruction of the Shiite mosque in Aygek, under the pretext of ‘construction work,’” Avanesov wrote, citing evidence published by architectural heritage researcher Raffi Kortoshyan. He called it a clear case of state-led cultural cleansing.
Avanesov recalled that during the 2020 war, Azerbaijani forces deliberately targeted Shushi’s mosques, including the Upper Mosque of Gohar Agha, damaged during a missile attack on November 1, 2020.
“This is part of a broader policy aimed at erasing historical diversity and rewriting the past,” he said.
He emphasized that Azerbaijan’s actions contradict core principles of UNESCO, the Hague Convention, and other international treaties obligating states to protect both their own and others’ cultural heritage.
“What’s being destroyed isn’t just Armenian churches, khachkars, and villages. Еven Islamic monuments, Azerbaijan claims as its own. This proves the goal isn’t ethnic identity but the state-driven policy of solidifying territorial conquest through cultural destruction.”
Avanesov called for an urgent international response, stressing that cultural heritage destruction is not a local issue but a threat to global civilization.
Following the 2020 war, vast areas of Artsakh under Azerbaijani control have seen widespread destruction, including entire Armenian villages, neighborhoods, religious sites, and historic cemeteries. No compensation has been provided to displaced residents. In some cases, Armenian inscriptions have been erased or rebranded as ‘Albanian.’
