Monument to Armenian alphabet destroyed in Stepanakert

The Azerbaijani authorities have destroyed a monument dedicated to the Armenian alphabet in the courtyard of Stepanakert School No. 1 in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), the Tourism and Cultural Development Agency reports.

In a statement on September 1, the Day of Knowledge and Schooling, the agency stressed that the destruction of monumental artworks has reached alarming levels in Azerbaijani-occupied Artsakh, with Stepanakert particularly affected. These acts, it said, reflect a deliberate policy by Azerbaijan aimed at erasing the cultural presence of the Armenian people.

"The silence and inaction in the face of such crimes are unacceptable. The Armenian government must raise this issue at the highest international level and take concrete steps toward protection. The international community also bears direct responsibility as the custodian of cultural heritage, which is a universal value. These sites are not only part of Armenian identity, but also an inseparable component of humanity’s shared cultural memory," reads the statement.

The agency called for the protection of Armenian cultural heritage to become both a national and international priority.