Armenian cultural heritage has suffered another loss as Azerbaijanis have destroyed megalithic monument of the Al Lakes, a significant monument of Armenia’s megalithic culture. This has been confirmed by satellite image analysis conducted by the Armenian Cultural Landscape organization.

According to archaeologist Levon Mkrtchyan, the monument was unique in both its size and structure, reports Monument Watch.

This site fell under Azerbaijani occupation during the 2020 44-day war and subsequent military aggression in 2021. Given its location at a strategic border position, the monument was demolished to construct a military facility.

It is noted that Azerbaijan is systematically destroying archaeological sites in the occupied regions while conducting fortification and military infrastructure projects. These actions alter the historical landscape, severely impacting research and understanding of these ancient sites.

The 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict prohibits acts of vandalism, theft, and destruction of cultural heritage. The 1999 Second Protocol extends this prohibition to non-international conflicts, classifying such actions as international crimes under Article 15. Additionally, the 1949 Geneva Convention’s First Protocol (Article 53) explicitly bans any hostile actions against cultural heritage, its military use, or its destruction as a form of reprisal.