The Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Stepanakert, located in territory now under Azerbaijani control, has been subjected to vandalism, according to Monumentwatch.org , which monitors Artsakh’s cultural heritage.

Videos filmed by Azerbaijani users in Stepanakert show that two windows of the cathedral have been smashed.

“Although the structure remains intact and appears externally undamaged, the damage to the windows of a building representing the city’s Armenian identity is concerning, as they were not previously damaged. This indicates that the monument has been subjected to vandalism,” the statement said.

It is also noted that there are no recent photos or videos showing the interior condition of the church.

The Stepanakert cathedral was built in 2019 and is considered one of the city’s important symbols.

The deliberate damage to the cathedral’s windows constitutes a gross violation of Article 4 of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, as well as Article 9 of its 1999 Second Protocol.

Article 4(3) of the Hague Convention obliges parties to “prohibit, prevent and, if necessary, put a stop to any form of theft, pillage or misappropriation of, and any acts of vandalism directed against, cultural property.” Meanwhile, Article 9 of the 1999 Second Protocol requires the controlling party to prohibit and prevent any alteration of cultural property aimed at concealing or destroying cultural or historical evidence. Damage to the church’s exterior constitutes such an alteration.

As the party controlling Armenian cultural heritage in the area, Azerbaijan bears international legal responsibility for failing to preserve the integrity of the cultural property and prevent acts of vandalism. Given that the cathedral is a key symbol of the city’s Armenian identity, such actions are seen as aimed at erasing traces of Armenian cultural heritage in the area, contradicting UNESCO principles and international humanitarian law.

On December 7, 2021, the International Court of Justice, in the case “Armenia v. Azerbaijan,” imposed provisional measures obliging Azerbaijan to “take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration affecting Armenian cultural heritage, including churches and other places of worship.”

The damage to the cathedral indicates that the state is not complying with a binding decision of the highest international court.

Under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), cultural vandalism is often regarded as part of ethnic cleansing and racial discrimination. Article 5 guarantees the right of everyone to participate equally in cultural life. Targeting Armenian religious sites violates the fundamental right of Artsakh Armenians to access their cultural heritage.

The deliberate targeting or damage of cultural property not used for military purposes is classified as a serious violation under Article 15 of the 1999 Second Protocol to the Hague Convention and may entail individual criminal responsibility.