The organization “We Are Our Mountains” has appealed to international bodies to help protect the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh, citing ongoing destruction, vandalism, and appropriation attempts.

“The destruction of Stepanakert’s St. Hakob Church, reports about the demolition of the Holy Mother of God Cathedral, as well as documented acts of vandalism against shrines, cemeteries, monuments, and visible markers of Armenian identity point not to isolated incidents but to a dangerous and consistent policy.

In this context, particularly alarming is the recent surge in Azerbaijani information space rhetoric targeting one of Artsakh’s symbols—the ‘We Are Our Mountains’ monument—for destruction, alteration, or reinterpretation. Recent cases of heritage destruction in Stepanakert make this threat real.

The systematic destruction of cultural heritage and the erasure of an indigenous people’s presence from its homeland contain elements of genocide and should be viewed not only as cultural vandalism but also as a criminal policy against identity, memory, and historical rights.

We call on international cultural, human rights, and diplomatic institutions—primarily UNESCO and ICOMOS—to take urgent and effective steps to prevent further irreversible loss of Armenian heritage in Artsakh. It is necessary to ensure independent monitoring, documentation, and international access to assess the current state of Artsakh’s cultural and spiritual heritage,” the statement said.

It added that the silence and inaction of the international community have already led to severe consequences, including “the depopulation of Artsakh, occupation, and the ongoing destruction of Armenian historical and cultural presence.”

“Today, that same inaction may lead to another irreversible loss,” the statement concluded.

Recently, two churches in Stepanakert were completely demolished—the St. Hakob Church and the city’s main sanctuary, the Holy Mother of God Cathedral.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, commenting on the destruction of the cathedral, said: “Taking into account our previous experience, I do not think we will make this an issue for international discussion at the state level. This is a situation we need to fully and comprehensively understand.”

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan has also sent appeals to the U.S. president, members of the Senate and Congress, the Pope, and leaders of influential international and church organizations regarding the destruction of Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage in Artsakh.