Caucasus Muslim Board calls churches ‘illegal’

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Caucasus Muslim Board has issued a statement responding to criticism from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin regarding the demolition of churches in Stepanakert, describing the Armenian churches as “illegal structures.”

The statement characterized Etchmiadzin’s remarks as “a manifestation of hostility and disinformation,” according to 1news.az.

According to the Board, “Etchmiadzin is making unfounded accusations against Azerbaijan, which is an unsuccessful attempt to politicize the issue.”

It also claimed that the demolition of the mentioned churches “cannot in any way be interpreted as the destruction of religious or cultural heritage.”

The statement further said that in recent months, formerly displaced persons returning to the area have repeatedly appealed to state bodies and courts, demanding the demolition of buildings that did not exist before the period of “occupation.”

It also asserted that the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral in Shushi “has been restored”, and that an Armenian church in Baku remained under state protection throughout the conflict.

“Attempts by Etchmiadzin to distort this centuries-old reality of Azerbaijan at such a sensitive stage only hinder efforts to establish lasting peace in the region. It is necessary to immediately stop attempts to use past political provocations and obstruct the establishment of final peace,” the statement said.

In recent days, two churches in Stepanakert—the Holy Hakob Church and the city’s main cathedral, Surb Astvatsatsin—have been completely demolished.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan earlier said regarding the destruction of the cathedral that, given past experience, he does not believe the issue will be raised at the international level for now and that the situation needs to be fully understood.

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan has sent official appeals to the U.S. president, members of the Senate and Congress, the Pope, and other influential international and church leaders, raising concerns over the destruction of Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage in the region.