Geghard Foundation: Azerbaijan continues to destroy cultural heritage

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan continues to destroy cultural heritage not only in Artsakh but also within its own borders, the Geghard Analytical Foundation reports. The article criticizes Baku for accusing Armenia of vandalizing Muslim monuments in Artsakh while itself failing to preserve historic sites.

According to the foundation, vandalism against cultural monuments remains a core part of Azerbaijani policy. Structures from different periods, often unrelated to Azerbaijani culture, are being deliberately erased. This includes Christian churches in occupied Artsakh and ancient religious sites inside Azerbaijan. One notable example is a semi-ruined church in Zaqatala district, which, despite being officially protected, has been subjected to acts of vandalism.

The article states: "Azerbaijan, which has never shown a commitment to preserving historical and cultural assets, continues to blame the Armenian side for the alleged vandalism of Muslim monuments in Artsakh. Yet many of these monuments have no actual connection to 'Azerbaijani culture.' In fact, numerous historic sites, including Muslim shrines and mosques, have been turned into garbage dumps or barns in Azerbaijan."

Currently, several sites linked to the Shirvanshahs and the Mongol period face destruction. One example is the Shah Sultan Hussein Mosque in the village of Novkhani, built during the Safavid era and now used as a dumping site. The mosque is considered part of Iranian cultural heritage.

Another case involves the "Avazi Hamam," a famous 17th-18th century bathhouse located in Mashtaga, a district of Sabunchi in Baku, which has reportedly also become a garbage dump. Similar bathhouses in other Absheron villages are said to be partially destroyed or in ruins.

The article concludes: "Azerbaijan has essentially declared war on civilization itself, destroying cultural assets linked to various peoples and eras within its territory. Even Azerbaijani citizens are acknowledging this on social media, writing: 'Vandalism in Azerbaijan—don’t blame Armenians; we’re destroying our own historical monuments.'"

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has also documented the systematic destruction of Armenian religious and cultural heritage in Artsakh. It recommends that the U.S. government and Congress impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijan and allow independent international observers—such as UN representatives—to visit Nagorno-Karabakh and nearby regions to verify and document cultural and religious sites. The commission also proposes holding hearings in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.