Azerbaijan has vandalized the St. Mary (Surb Mariam Astvatsatsin) Church in the village of Vaghuhas, located in the Martakert region of Artsakh, according to a report by the Geghard Foundation.

The foundation stated that Azerbaijan continues to systematically erase traces of Armenian heritage in Artsakh, tying cultural destruction to broader territorial ambitions.

“The St. Mary Church in Vaghuhas has become the latest target of Azerbaijani vandalism. At least one khachkar (cross-stone) placed in the churchyard was destroyed, and religious icons from the church were ripped out,” the statement reads.

The foundation expressed disappointment at the silence of international institutions and individuals who claim to advocate for the preservation of Christian values, noting their apparent disregard for the protection of Armenian Christian monuments that are part of universal Christian heritage.

For years, Azerbaijan has promoted itself internationally as a “multicultural” and “tolerant” state. According to the Geghard Foundation, this public image serves as a cover for anti-Armenian policies, including the destruction or appropriation of Armenian cultural landmarks within Azerbaijan’s control.

The foundation documented this behavior as part of a broader strategy to conceal Azerbaijan’s long-standing hostility toward Armenian heritage, citing numerous cases of cultural destruction and historical distortion.

Previously, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlighted the systematic destruction of Armenian religious and cultural heritage in Artsakh. USCIRF urged the U.S. government and Congress to take action, including imposing targeted sanctions on Azerbaijan and allowing international observers, such as UN representatives, to access Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas to verify and document cultural and religious heritage sites. The commission also recommended that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hold hearings on the matter.