Destruction of Stepanakert church an act of cultural genocide, watchdog says

The Saint Hakob Church, built in 2007 on Hekimyan Street in Stepanakert, Artsakh, has been demolished, according to monitoring reports and circulated images showing the site leveled.

The destruction appears to extend beyond the church structure itself. The surrounding grounds have also been flattened, the Artsakh Monument Watch reported.

The organization said khachkars — traditional Armenian cross-stones — and other memorial monuments located on the site were likely destroyed. Among them was a khachkar created by sculptor Robert Askaryan.

Azerbaijani media outlets described the church as “illegal” and subject to dismantling.

Cultural heritage observers and legal analysts say the demolition raises concerns under international law. They cite Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which addresses war crimes, including the destruction of cultural property. They also reference the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its 1999 Second Protocol, which classify serious damage to cultural heritage as a violation that may be subject to prosecution.

Attacks on cultural heritage can be considered within the broader framework of genocide, particularly when they are linked to the erasure of a community’s historical and cultural presence. International Criminal Court policy documents note that crimes against cultural heritage are often associated with or carried out alongside acts of genocide.

Beyond legal considerations, the watchdog says the destruction carries significant cultural and emotional consequences for Armenians from Artsakh. The loss of religious and historical sites is seen as undermining the community’s ability to maintain its cultural identity and heritage.

International human rights frameworks, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, affirm the right of individuals to participate in cultural life and preserve their heritage.