Azerbaijan continues to erase WWII monuments in Artsakh

PanARMENIAN.Net - Azerbaijan has sharply increased the deliberate destruction of World War II monuments and memorial complexes in areas of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) under its control, according to Hovik Avanesov, Ombudsman for Cultural Heritage of the Armenian Highland.

“In occupied Artsakh, Azerbaijan’s targeted destruction of WWII monuments has reached unprecedented levels,” Avanesov stated. “Notably, this vandalism is being carried out in a coordinated manner, intensifying around the 80th anniversary of Victory Day and beyond.”

He noted the irony of Azerbaijani authorities portraying themselves as contributors to the Soviet war effort against fascism, while simultaneously distorting history by falsely attributing Armenian Soviet heroes and marshals to Azerbaijani heritage.

One of the latest incidents, identified through preliminary satellite image analysis, occurred in the village of Yemishjan in the Martuni region of occupied Artsakh. The entire WWII monument there has reportedly been destroyed. Satellite images were shared on Ararat Petrosyan’s Telegram channel.

The post also pointed out that Article 243.4 of the Russian Federation’s Criminal Code imposes penalties for acts of vandalism against WWII monuments—even those located outside of Russia.

On September 19, 2023, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive against Artsakh, subjecting the region to intense shelling. The next day, Artsakh’s authorities agreed to a ceasefire under Russian peacekeeper mediation, accepting Baku’s terms, which included the disarmament of the local defense forces and the dissolution of the Republic of Artsakh. Forced displacement of Armenians began on September 24, with over 100,000 people fleeing to Armenia. By some estimates, only about 20 Armenians remain in the region. On September 28, President Samvel Shahramanyan signed a decree to dissolve the Republic of Artsakh, effective January 1, 2024.