From ancient churches and sacred monasteries to commanding sculptures, intricate stone carvings, and precious reliquaries, Armenian cultural sites have a special place in world civilization. Unfortunately, these monuments to artistic, architectural and engineering achievement are in imminent risk of destruction, as they fall under the custodial authority of Azerbaijan with the backing of its ally Turkey.
As both countries have a well-documented history of cultural nihilism and denial, it is all the more urgent to raise the alarm to the international community about the endangered Armenian cultural sites of Artsakh. The time is now to reach out to the appropriate international organizations, government representatives, and cultural institutions to urge them to act immediately to protect these cultural treasures before it’s too late.
The information on this page is a good place to start. You’ll find tools and resources for personal or group activism as well as a wealth of historic references, news articles, social media strategies, and tips for outreach and action.
In the early hours of September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan, with Turkey's backing, launched a planned and unprovoked full-scale attack on the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). AGBU worked with many international partners and concerned parties to raise awareness of the history and significance of Artsakh throughout the world. AGBU served as a repository resource for factual information on the history of the region, news coverage of current events and heritage site information.
Over the decades, Azerbaijan and Turkey have consistently devalued and disrespected, if not shown contempt for minority cultures by neglecting, defacing or misappropriating their structures, artifacts and artistic treasures. Often, they will go so far as to erase all traces of indigenous cultures so as to claim historical rights to lands they conquered or that fell into their hands through redrawing of maps after wars or revolutions. Here are curated articles and videos that document such assaults on Armenian culture at the hands of the Azeri government and individuals.
BBC : 25 Mar 2021 "Nagorno-Karabakh: The mystery of the missing church"
HR Ombudsman of Artsakh : 26 Jan 2021 "Ad Hoc Public Report - The Armenian Cultural Heritage in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh): cases of vandalism and at risk ofdestruction by Azerbaijan"
Los Angeles Times: 16 Dec 2020 "Armenian monuments are at risk in Azerbaijan. L.A. artists maketheir own to keep memory alive"
The Times: 16 Dec 2020 "Nagorno-Karabakh: priceless Christian artefacts are at risk ofbeing destroyed"
Human Rights Watch: 16 Dec 2020 "Azerbaijan: Attack on Church Possible War Crime"
The National Interest: 16 Dec 2020 "Now that Azerbaijan Controls Nagorno-Karabakh, Are MedievalChurches in the Crosshairs?"
The Conversation: 15 Dec 2020 "Armenians displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh fear their medievalchurches will be destroyed"
Medium: 14 Dec 2020 "The US can help prevent the destruction of cultural heritage inNagorno-Karabakh. Here’s how."
Atlas Obscura: 10 Dec 2020 "Cultural Heritage Is Caught Up in the Conflict OverNagorno-Karabakh"
The Art Net: 10 Dec 2020 "What International Audiences Must Understand About the ConflictBetween Armenia and Azerbaijan—and the Cultural Heritage That’s atStake"
Apollo Magazine: 9 Dec 2020 "The medieval Armenian monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh must beprotected"
Radio Free Europe: 9 Dec 2020 "When The World Looked Away: The Destruction Of Julfa Cemetery"
NY Times: 30 Nov 2020 "When an Enemy’s Cultural Heritage Becomes One’s Own"
The European Post: 30 Nov 2020 "Europe should stand up to Turkey and protect the cultural heritagein Nagorno Karabakh"
Vatican News: 25 Nov 2020 "Nagorno Karabakh, l'appello delle Chiese del Medio Oriente"
Medium-DFR Lab: 25 Nov 2020 "Church and memorial desecration in post ceasefireNagorno-Karabakh"
Smithsonian Magazine: 24 Nov 2020 "Why Scholars, Cultural Institutions Are Calling to Protect ArmenianHeritage"
The Middle East Council of Churches: 23 Nov 2020 "Justice for Artsakh"
World Council of Churches: 23 Nov 2020 "WCC letter to UNESCO on Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh’s Armenianhistorical, religious and cultural heritage"
Sky News: 23 Nov 2020 "‘I don’t want to say goodbye’: Armenian monastery guarded bymilitary set to pass to Azerbaijan"
The Middle East Council of Churches: 23 Nov 2020 "Justice for Artsakh"
WCC: 23 Nov 2020 "WCC letter to UNESCO on Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh’s Armenianhistorical, religious and cultural heritage"
Sunday Times: 22 Nov 2020 "Armenians fear a sacking of the monasteries with Nagorno‐Karabakhretreat"
Getty: 19 Nov 2020 "Getty Trust Statement on the Need to Protect Armenian CulturalHeritage"
The Guardian: 19 Nov 2020 "Getty Trust Statement on the Need to Protect Armenian CulturalHeritage"
Wall Street Journal: 18 Nov 2020 "Cultural Heritage in the Crosshairs Once More"
The Observer: 18 Nov 2020 "Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh fear destruction of their culturalheritage"
France 24: 17 Nov 2020 Armenia looks to protect cultural artefacts amid conflict withAzerbaijan
The Art Newspaper: 17 Nov 2020 Metropolitan Museum of Art appeals for protection of culturalheritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh
Met Museum: 17 Nov 2020 "Statement by The Metropolitan Museum of Art"
Christianity Today: 17 Nov 2020 "A Plea to Save Artsakh’s Armenian Heritage"
Eurasianet: 16 Nov 2020 "Now comes a Karabakh war over cultural heritage"
Asia Times: 16 Nov 2020 "Cultural Erasure May Spark Next Nagorno-Karabakh War"
Greek City Times: 16 Nov 2020 "Azerbaijani Islamist destroys a Cross as Putin calls for respect ofArtsakh’s religious sites"
World Monuments Fund: 15 Nov 2020 "WMF Statement on Safeguarding Cultural Heritage inNagorno-Karabakh"
Radio Free Europe: 14 Nov 2020 "Left behind? Churches, Monasteries due for handover toAzerbaijan"
NAASR: 14 Nov 2020 "The Armenian Cultural Heritage of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) "
Civilnet: 14 Nov 2020 "Dadivank Monastery to remain under the control of Russianpeacekeepers"
France24: 13 Nov 2020 "Armenians bid 'painful' farewell to monastery ceded in peacedeal"
Hyperallergic: 13 Nov 2020 "Google Arts & Culture as an Agent of Ethnic Cleansing"
News.ru: 12 Nov 2020 "Lavrov says restoration of monuments in Nagorno-Karabakh requiresUNESCO"
AP NEWS: 12 Nov 2020 "Preserve Artsakh: An Open Letter to the World Community"
Radio Free Europe: 12 Nov 2020 "LeftBehind? Churches, Monasteries Due for Handover To Azerbaijan"
Los Angeles Times: 7 Nov 2020 "HistoricArmenianmonuments wereobliterated. Somecall it ‘culturalgenocide’"
Europa Nostra: 28 Oct 2020 "Europa Nostra Statement related to the armed conflict in and aroundthe Nagorno-Karabakh region"
The Art Newspaper: 26 Oct 2020 "Armenianmonuments in line of fire in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict"
UNESCO: 9 Oct 2020 "Situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone UNESCOstatement"
BBC: 8 Oct 2020 "Nagorno-Karabakh: Armeniaaccuses Azerbaijan of targetingcathedral"
The Blue Shield: 7 Oct 2020 "Blue Shield Statement on fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh"
Hyperallergic: 3 Oct 2020 "ArcheologistRaises Alarms Over Azerbaijan’s Shelling of an Ancient City"
ICOMOS Heritage at Risk Report: 2006/2007 "Destructionof the Armenian Cemetery at Djulfa"
Cultural Property News: 19 March 2019 "WorldHeritageCommitteeMeeting in Baku Will Be Hosted By Cultural Destroyers"
The Guardian: 01 March 2019 "Monumentalloss: Azerbaijan and 'the worst cultural genocide of the 21stcentury'"
Institute for War & Peace Reporting: 26 April 2006 "FamousMedieval Cemetery Vanishes"
Le Monde: 27 Apr 2021 Après la guerre au Haut-Karabakh, le patrimoine culturel arménien menacé
Aletia: 19 Jan 2021 Haut-Karabakh : « Chaque jour ils trouveront quelque chose à détruire »
Le Figaro: 15 Jan 2020 Au Haut-Karabakh, ces trésors arméniens menacés
Le Figaro: 15 Jan 2020 Patrick Donabédian: «Le patrimoine arménien est en grand danger»
Le Monde: 6 Jan 2020 Dans le Kelbadjar, la bataille se déplace autour des monumentschrétiens
La Libre: 16 Dec 2020 La sauvegarde du patrimoine de l’Arménie doit être une priorité
INALCO - Etudes arméniennes: 14 Dec 2020 Monuments arméniens d'Artsakh : enquête sur un héritage menacé
Mediapart: 13 Dec 2020 Haut-Karabakh: les armes se sont tues, une guerre culturellecommence
Radio France International: 8 Dec 2020 Arménie: les historiens inquiets pour le patrimoine dans les zonescédées à l’Azerbaïdjan
Nouvelles d’Arménie: 3 Dec 2020 L’Azerbaïdjan a vandalisé les monuments arméniens du village deTalish qu’ils occupent désormais, près de Martakert(Haut-Karabagh)
France TV: 29 Nov 2020 "Actualité Orientales : le devenir du patrimoine arménien deL’Artsakh"
France Info: 27 Nov 2020 "Haut-Karabakh : la population arménienne forcée de s’exiler"
ICOM Belgique: 24 Nov 2020 "L’ICOM condamne fermement le ciblage du patrimoine culturel commearme de guerre dans la région du Haut-Karabakh"
Le Figaro: 22 Nov 2020 "Patrimoine : l'Unesco propose l'envoi d'une mission au NagornyKarabakh"
France Info: 20 Nov 2020 "Haut-Karabakh : l'Unesco propose l'envoi d'une mission d'expertspour dresser "un inventaire" du patrimoine culturel local"
Le Point: 18 Nov 2020 "Haut-Karabakh : le prêtre arménien qui refuse de quitter sonmonastère"
France 24: 18 Nov 2020 "Haut-Karabakh : des manuscrits arméniens du 13e siècle déplacés àErevan"
France 24: 17 Nov 2020 "Haut-Karabakh : le patrimoine armenién menacé?"
France Info: 12 Nov 2020 "Inquiétude de l'Arménie pour son patrimoine historique, religieuxet culturel situé au Nagorny Karabakh"
L’OBS: 12 Nov 2020 "Karabakh:le monastère arménien de Dadivank face au péril del’Azerbaïdjan"
HuffPost: 2 Nov 2020 "Dans le Haut-Karabakh, si les pierres pouvaient parler"
La Libre: 13 Oct 2020 "Le violoncelliste belge Sevak Avanesyan joue au milieu d'unecathédrale bombardée au Karabakh"
Vatican News: 26 Nov 2020 "A rischio il patrimonio artistico e culturale del Nagorno-Karabakh/Artsakh"
Vatican News: 25 Nov 2020 "Nagorno Karabakh, l'appello delle Chiese del Medio Oriente"
SIR Agenzia d’informazione: 20 Nov 2020 "Nagorno-Karabakh. Ferrari (Ca’ Foscari): “Non permettiamo un genocidio culturale armeno nei territori ceduti all’Azerbaigian”
Zeitung: 2 Jan 2020 "Armen Kazaryan’s interview"
Bild: 8 Oct 2020 "Kirche in Trümmer gebombt"
TACC: 24 Nov 2020 "Алиев назвал христианские храмы в Азербайджане историческим достоянием страны"
Коммерсанть: 23 Nov 2020 "Святыня в любом случае должна быть сохранена"
Ridus: 23 Nov 2020 "Под защитой креста и пулемета: не все армяне уйдут с приходом Азербайджана"
Интерфакс: 20 Nov 2020 "Путин призвал сохранить памятники и святыни в Карабахе"
Русская народная линия: 19 Nov 2020 "Важной проблемой является обеспечение прав верующих в конфликтном регионе"
Украина.ru: 19 Nov 2020 "В Госдуме призвали Азербайджан не уничтожать религиозные святыни Карабаха"
РИА Новости: 19 Nov 2020 "В Госдуме призвали Азербайджан сохранить религиозные святыни Карабаха"
РИА Новости: 19 Nov 2020 "Гарегин II поблагодарил Путина за сохранение наследия армян в Карабахе"
Кавказский Узел: 18 Nov 2020 "Армянские паломники прощаются с монастырем в Карвачарском районе"
Русский мир: 17 Nov 2020 "Российские миротворцы взяли под охрану монастырь Дадиванк в Нагорном Карабахе"
РИА Новости: 16 Nov 2020 "Российские миротворцы взяли под защиту монастырь Дадиванк в Карабахе"
ВЗГЛЯД: 15 Nov 2020 "Российские миротворцы взяли под защиту храм Дадиванк в Карабахе"
Anna News: 15 Nov 2020 "Монастырь Дадиванк. Карабах в объективе военных корреспондентов"
Вестник Кавказа: 14 Nov 2020 "Армянская церковь распространила неожиданное заявление по монастырю Дадиванк в Кельбаджарском районе"
Комсомольская правда: 14 Nov 2020 "Армянская церковь сообщила о ситуации в храме Дадиванк в Нагорном Карабахе"
РИА Новости: 14 Nov 2020 "Армянская церковь обвинила Азербайджан в осквернении собора в Шуши"
Московский Комсомолец: 11 Nov 2020 "В Карабахе закрывается легендарный монастырь Дадиванк"
Взгляд: 8 Oct 2020 "Разрушение карабахского храма – признак войны на уничтожение армян"
Infobae: 13 Dec 2020 "más grande del siglo XXI”: la destrucción del cementerio medieval armenio de Julfa"
You can make a difference in saving Armenian cultural sites from imminent danger. Share information on social media or reach out to key institutions to voice your concern.
Download and Share
We have prepared a series of social media artwork to raise awareness. Find multiple options in your language of choice to share with the world.
Preserve Artsakh: An Open Letter to the World Community
Click here to read published article by international historians, experts and archeologists.
UNESCO: Private individuals, NGOs and other groups raise the alarm to UNESCO of existing threats to Armenian culture by submitting information on the sites noted in the slides above to UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger. Submit via email to: wh-info@unesco.org
International Council on Monuments and Sites: Submit a heritage alert directly on their site by clicking here.
International Blue Shield: Send a message directly on their site by clicking here.
Click here for sample language for posts & tweets.
Tag these entities:
@UNESCO
@GettyConservationInstitute
@ICOMOSInternational
@GlobalHeritageFund
@IcomOfficiel
@ICAInternationalCouncilonArchives
@InternationalBlueShield
@europanostra
@worldmonuments
Գործե՛ք հանուն մարդկության բարօրության: Նվիրաբերե՛ք այսօր:
