Destruction of Artsakh heritage a loss for global civilization – ombudsman

April 18 marks the International Day for Monuments and Sites, a global observance dedicated to recognizing, celebrating and preserving cultural diversity and heritage. On this occasion, Hovik Avanesov, Cultural Ombudsman of the Armenian Highlands, issued a statement highlighting the urgent need to save the endangered heritage of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).

“For us, this day has become not only a moment of respect, but also one of deep concern and alarm,” Avanesov wrote. “While humanity increasingly views cultural heritage as a shared global value, we are witnessing its deliberate and systematic destruction in Artsakh.”

Avanesov emphasized that Azerbaijan’s cultural genocide in Artsakh is a blow not only to the Armenian people but to global civilization as a whole.

Numerous Armenian historical and cultural monuments across Artsakh, incluidng churches, monasteries, khachkars (cross-stones), tombs, fortresses and ancient settlements, have become targets of state-sponsored Azeri vandalism. These sites are being desecrated, repurposed under false cultural identities and stripped of their authentic historical markers, including inscriptions and architectural features.

This destruction is accompanied by historical revisionism, with attempts to attribute Armenian heritage to other ethnic or religious groups. Moreover, Azerbaijan continues to block access to international experts, hindering independent monitoring and deepening the climate of impunity. Such actions, Avanesov noted, violate both cultural rights and core principles of international law.

The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage is recognized under various international conventions as a component of genocide. The legal frameworks emphasize the protection of cultural property during conflicts and condemn all acts of cultural erasure. Meanwhile, Avanesov criticized the inadequate response from international organizations, including UNESC, to the destruction of the Artsakh heritage.

“This silence or inaction should not be mistaken for permission to continue cultural genocide,” he stressed.

Avanesov reaffirmed that Artsakh’s cultural heritage is not solely the property of the Armenian people, but a treasure of Christianity and humanity at large.

“Every destroyed khachkar, desecrated church or distorted historical monument is a loss for global civilization,” he said.

On the International Day for Monuments and Sites, Avanesov called on the global community to move beyond symbolic gestures and take meaningful steps to safeguard universal human values.