Mother See publishes study on destruction of Artsakh cultural heritage

With the blessing of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has published a new scholarly monograph examining Azerbaijan’s policies toward Artsakh’s Armenian cultural heritage from 2020 to 2025.

The book, authored by historian and political scientist Armine Tigranyan, is titled “Azerbaijan’s Policy of Destruction and Appropriation of Artsakh’s Cultural Heritage (2020–2025).” It analyzes the systematic destruction, targeting and appropriation of Armenian historical and cultural sites in Artsakh following the 2020 war, amid war crimes, ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination, according to the publisher.

The study reviews international mechanisms for the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict, documenting cases in which Armenian monuments and religious sites were unlawfully targeted during and after the 44-day war. It also examines international legal and humanitarian frameworks, including UNESCO, UN, ICOMOS and European Parliament documents, as well as the Rome Statute, to outline possible avenues for protecting Artsakh’s cultural heritage.

In an interview with Panorama.am on Wednesday, Tigranyan said international law provides the primary means for safeguarding cultural heritage, emphasizing that such protection must remain above political disputes.

“Preserving heritage is a universal obligation and a responsibility to future generations,” she said, adding that cultural heritage rights are recognized under international law as part of fundamental human cultural rights regardless of a territory’s political status.

The monograph is intended for cultural heritage specialists, policymakers, academic institutions, students and readers concerned with the protection and preservation of Artsakh’s Armenian cultural legacy.