Month: February 2021

The Staff of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh published on Tuesday a report on vandalism against the Armenian cultural heritage in the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh and the threat of destruction of Armenian monuments. 

According to the document, as a result of military aggression against Artsakh, at least 1456 overwhelmingly Armenian historical and cultural prominent immovable monuments, including 161 monasteries and churches, 591 khachkars (cross-stones), the ancient sites of Tigranakert, Azokh, Nor Karmiravan, Mirik, Keren, fortresses and castles, sanctuaries and other monuments remained under the control of Azerbaijan. 8 state museums also came under the control of Azerbaijan with 19 311 exhibits, as well as private museums of Armenian Carpet and Armenian dram of Shushi.

The report presents a number of cases of destruction and acts of vandalism against the  Armenian cultural heritage during the Azerbaijani-Turkish aggression and after the ceasefire, including deliberate targeting and vandalism against St. Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral and St. Hovhannes Mkrtich (Kanach Zham) Church of Shushi. 

The report also refers to Azerbaijan’s policy of deliberately spreading disinformation on Armenian cultural heritage and “albanizing” the Armenian cultural monuments which is also a threat of extinction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of Artsakh.

The analysis of the identified cases and the context of Armeniaphobia shows that the destruction and distortion of the Armenian cultural heritage are systematic and widespread. The actions and statements of the Azerbaijani state bodies and public figures show that this is a specific state policy based on the criminal policy of inciting hatred against the Armenian nation.   

Given the many precedents and the real threats of deliberate destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage in the territories under the control of Azerbaijan by the Azerbaijani authorities, the Staff of the Human Rights Ombudsman of Artsakh considers it urgent for the relevant international organizations and especially UNESCO to take effective and immediate steps to preserve the Armenian cultural heritage in the territory of Artsakh.

The English content of the report can be found  on the website of the Human Rights Ombudsman. 

Expert in Iranian studies Vardan Voskanyan commented on the Monday incident in Georgia's Marneuli region, where Azerbaijanis had reportedly attacked Armenian cargo trucks. 

"The attack on Armenian trucks with stones in Azerbaijani-populated region of Georgia shows that the explicit propaganda of the idea  about 'living in peace' after surrendering Artsakh has no touch with reality and is even very dangerous. Unless Armenia has recovered, shown its strength, recorded even a small victory in any sphere against the same enemy, we will not only be ignored but will be stoned further both literally and figuratively. Thus we would have no place to retreat or escape," Voskanyan wrote on Facebook. 

"Armenian needs a victory, and that victory will come," concluded the expert. 

During the previous war in Artsakh, the people were aware of all developments on the frontline and Armenia managed to secure a victory, but it was not the case in the recent autumn war, Vazgen Manukyan, the joint candidate of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement for interim prime minister, told a meeting with residents of Armenia’s Ararat Province on Tuesday.

According to Manukyan, while Azerbaijan was preparing for victory in the war, Armenia was preparing for defeat.

He condemned the prosecution and arrests of army generals by the authorities in 2018 over alleged corruption offences, adding it caused distrust in the military.

The opposition leader believes the modernization of the army was another step that led Armenia to defeat.

"In 2016, Azerbaijan attempted an attack, but realized that it was facing the army which had defeated the country in 1994 and stopped the war. We, in turn, realized what could await us during the next war – use of UAVs, new technologies, but no steps were taken in that direction,” he stated.

He said the former Armenian authorities sought to acquire Tor missile systems to guard against UAVs, however after the change of government the arms purchase plan was revised and, instead, the authorities decided to purchase “toy” airplanes.

“These planes were of no use during the war and were never used. On October 3, France proposed to provide us with weapons to protect against the drones, but we refused. On October 11, France reiterated its offer, but we again turned it down," he said.

Referring to the recent interview of the former Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan, Vazgen Manukyan highlighted the part in which he said that they failed to control the armed forces regularly.

"Reserve forces were taken to forests and left there, with one of the members tasked to lead the groups. It was not a war; it was a slaughterhouse,” he said. “Secret talks were held, due to which Shushi was handed over to the enemy. Russia repeatedly proposed to stop the war, but they [the authorities] did not agree. On the 4th day of the war, the chief of the General Staff [of the Armenian Armed Forces] and the Artsakh leadership called for stopping the war and making concessions, but they did not agree. This was a deliberately defeated war aimed at getting rid of Artsakh," Vazgen Manukyan said.

Today, January 26, marks the 29th anniversary of the self-defense battles in the Artsakh village of Karin Tak, which fell under the control of Azerbaijan during the 2020 war.

For the first time in 29 years, the anniversary of the heroic battles and victory was celebrated not in the village close to the fortress town of Shushi, but in the Yerablur Military Pantheon in Yerevan.

Residents of Karin Tak and Shushi still cannot come to terms with the situation or find answers to their questions.

Mayor of Shushi Artsvik Sargsyan today visited the military cemetery along with many other Artsakh people to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

“None of us could imagine that the impregnable fortress would fall. I thought that the backbone of the Azerbaijanis would be broken in Karin Tak, which would become a bloody gorge for them for the second time. But the army was withdrawn from the area for unknown reasons and there were only 35 residents left in Karin Tak. There were casualties. The defense had to be strengthened there, the artillery had to be employed, whereas the army and the artillery were withdrawn. It’s not still clear what happened. I believe that we should do everything possible to move on to its liberation. Azerbaijanis have never lived in Karin Tak,” he said, stressing the need to raise the spirits of people in every possible way and to be united.

According to the information provided to him, the Azerbaijani military are destroying all Armenian sanctuaries and graves in Shushi and Karin Tak.

"A monument was erected in the village on the occasion of the January 26 victory, but they [Azeris] destroyed it, throwing its pieces into a hole," he said.

Information security expert, coordinator of the specialized military website Razm.info Karen Vrtanesyan on Tuesday denounced the claims of the current authorities that the recent war in Artsakh and Armenia’s defeat were “inevitable”, adding they are simply trying to clear themselves of any guilt.

“Some examples of propaganda theses based on these claims are the following: "The war was inevitable because the former authorities had brought the negotiation process to a standstill", "The defeat was inevitable because the former authorities had robbed the army", "The defeat was inevitable, because Turkey was fighting against us", “The defeat was inevitable because the Russians did not help us” (this is spread from the Ministry of Defense in the form of gossips like “I will say something, but don't tell anyone else”),” he wrote on Facebook.

“The reality is the following:

1. The war could have been averted if the Armenian authorities had not destroyed the state (especially the defense) systems before the whole world, they had not divided the society, had not resorted to adventures in international relations and had not demonstratively failed the coronavirus fight, making it clear to the enemy that they are just idle talkers and incompetent ignoramuses. In short, if they had just done their job normally, at least not worse than the former authorities.

2. It could have been possible not to suffer defeat in the war and even to win it, regardless of the use of mercenaries and even Turkish drones, if the right orders had been given in time and they had worked normally instead of going hysterical in live videos, spreading panic, destroying the rear and accusing the former regime,” the expert said, adding power could have been handed over to experienced people during the war.

“But the most important thing for them was to cling to power, rather than to win the war or at least not to suffer defeat,” he stated, adding even in the event of defeat, capitulation was not inevitable and there were different ways to get out of the situation with minimal losses.

“3. Therefore, you are the one responsible for the start of the war and the disgraceful defeat with maximum losses,” Vrtanesyan said.