Azerbaijanis destroyed the memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Artsakh wars in the Khnushinak village of the Martunu region of the occupied Artsakh Republic. Artsakh cultural heritage ombudsman, vice president of “Azkayin” historical and cultural NGO Hovik Avanesov, Artak Mkrtchyan, staff member of Artsakh cultural heritage ombudsman office, released a joint statement.

“Destruction of cultural and historical heritage has never been an accidental or spontaneous phenomenon. It is a purposeful, systematic and state-sponsored policy tool, the main purpose of which is not only the elimination of material values, but the destruction of the historical memory, identity and foundations of the people’s existence. Such politics tend to recast the past by erasing all evidence that contradicts the dominant narratives.

The destruction of the memorial complex dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War and the Artsakh wars in Khnushinak village of the Martun region of Artsakh should be considered in this context. This is not an isolated act of vandalism, but an integral part of a consistent strategy, the goal of which is the complete dismantling of the historical memory of the area. The destruction of monuments here acts as a mechanism for the construction of a “silenced history”, where the witnesses of the past are physically eliminated in order to enable the imposition of a new, falsified history.

The Khnusinak Memorial was not just a stone structure. It was a symbolic space where the memory of people who lived, fought and died for their homeland was materialized. That monument documented the Armenian presence, historical continuity and the idea of ​​sacrifice. Therefore, its destruction is directed not only against the past, but also against the future, depriving generations of the pillars of their identity.

What is even more worrying is the fact that such actions are often accompanied by the silence of international institutions. That silence, in fact, translates into implicit sympathy, or at least indifference, which encourages the continuation of such policies. When the destruction of cultural heritage does not receive an adequate political, legal and moral response, it becomes a widespread practice.

Today, Khnusinak is no longer just a settlement. It has turned into a symbolic space where the mechanism of cultural genocide is prominently expressed. Here, not only material culture is destroyed, but also memory as a carrier of identity. And if this process continues with impunity, then its greatest ally is not only the perpetrator, but also the silence that allows for the systematic rewriting of history.”

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