Caucasus Heritage Watch has expressed concern about new Azerbaijani military installations near historic sites in the Aghdam and Martakert, Nagorno Karabakh.

“Between April and July 2021, bunkers were dug into a historic Azerbaijani cemetery, near a mausoleum. They were recently expanded as indicated in an April 2023 image,” CHW said in a thread on Twitter.

“In addition, a series of bunkers have appeared roughly 80 meters to the east of the Azerbaijani cemetery and mausoleum near Gyzyl Kangarli/Nor Maragha.”

Likewise, CHW added, between October 2022 and May 2023, bunkers appeared 115 meters east of the ruins of the early medieval church of Gyavurkala, located between Nor Haykajur and Sofulu villages.

Article 4.1 of the Hague Convention calls on parties to refrain “from any use of the [cultural] property and its immediate surroundings…which are likely to expose it to destruction or damage in the event of armed conflict.” Locating bunkers near heritage sites is a violation.4/6

“This is a worrisome pattern. CHW calls on Azerbaijani authorities to abide by Article 4.1 of the Hague Convention and remove military installations near heritage sites,” the organization said.