“Ignorant patriotism” is what leads people to harm historic monuments, according, monument expert, chairman of Research on Armenian Architecture NGO Samvel Karapetyan.

“The situation with Gandzasar monastery fence coating is not the first incident when a benefactor harms a historic monument,” the expert told a news conference in Yerevan, citing the so-called “restoration” of Shoshkavan monastery in Askeran province and a Shushi-based 1668 monastery as an example.

“Upon restoration, the 17-century construction was turned into a new building,” he said, equaling restoration of an ancient construction to a crime.

According to Karapetyan, Gandzasar monastery was surrounded with a fence in the 13th century, and further partially restored in the 17,19 and 20th centuries. If restored in 2011, the fence will be turned into a modern construction, thus losing a chance to be listed among UNESCO-protected monuments.

Coating of 13 century fence surrounding Gandzasar Monastery in Nagorno Karabakh is now in progress amid protests of Armenian organizations, bloggers and art lovers. According to Facebook poll, 1090 people opposed to coating of monastery fence, with only 11 favoring the idea.