Destruction of Stepanakert’s Main Cathedral Presented as a ‘Victory’ by Azerb

Artsakh Cultural Heritage Ombudsman and Vice President of the National Historical-Cultural NGO Hovik Avanesov has sounded the alarm on how Azerbaijanis are praising the destruction of the main cathedral in occupied Stepanakert as a “victory.”

“A photograph recently circulated on Azerbaijani social media, taken on the grounds of Stepanakert’s Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God. Particularly painful is the fact that the Azerbaijani woman who posted the photograph had also visited the same site in 2025, when the cathedral was still standing. Thus, the new photograph documents not only the destruction that has taken place, but also provides a clear indication of the attitude that has developed toward Armenian cultural and religious heritage,” Avanesov said.

Satellite monitoring data confirms that the cathedral was destroyed sometime between March 3 and April 2, 2026. In recent months, the Office of the Artsakh Cultural Heritage Ombudsman, as well as other organizations and experts specializing in cultural heritage protection and satellite monitoring, have repeatedly raised alarms over the cathedral’s destruction.

“Yet one of the most telling—and at the same time most painful—aspects of this episode is the caption accompanying the photograph: ‘gorbagor oldu,’ meaning ‘disappeared’ or ‘was destroyed.’ The destruction of an Armenian church is presented not as a cause for grief or concern, but as a source of pride and satisfaction,” Avanesov added.

He said that this phenomenon cannot be viewed merely as the behavior of one individual or an isolated social media user; it is an _expression_ of a deeper and systemic problem.

“When the destruction of a church is accompanied by public expressions of joy and pride, it demonstrates that the cultivation of anti-Armenian sentiment and hostility toward Armenian cultural heritage in Azerbaijan is systemic in nature,” Avanesov pointed out.

“Actions targeting Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh have long ceased to be merely a matter concerning the fate of individual monuments. What is at stake is a systematic policy aimed at erasing the Armenian presence, under which churches, monasteries, cemeteries, khachkars, monuments, entire settlements, historic neighborhoods, and other cultural sites are either destroyed or subjected to alterations and reinterpretations designed to deny their Armenian identity,” the cultural heritage defender said.

The destruction of the Mother Cathedral is particularly symbolic because it has taken place under circumstances in which the international community, international organizations, and cultural heritage protection bodies are aware of the dangers facing Artsakh’s Armenian heritage. For years, documents, expert reports, photographs, and satellite evidence have been published, yet these records have often not been followed by practical and preventive measures.

The current response of international organizations is clearly not commensurate with the scale of the threat. Statements, expressions of concern, and appeals following each new act of destruction cannot substitute for meaningful action. If the international community limits itself to documenting destruction after it has already occurred, that is not the protection of heritage—it is merely the retrospective recording of its destruction.

“It is equally unacceptable that professional organizations are forced to use satellite imagery to uncover the destruction of monuments, while competent international bodies remain unable to establish effective mechanisms for continuous monitoring, independent expert assessment, fact-finding missions, and accountability,” Avanesov emphasized.

Saving Artsakh’s cultural heritage requires not another round of ceremonial statements, but concrete measures. Avanesov is calling for the establishment of international monitoring mechanisms; the involvement of independent experts; the systematic collection and publication of satellite data; the legal documentation of every act of destruction; the identification of those responsible; and the implementation of mechanisms for international legal and political accountability.

The destruction of Stepanakert’s Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God must serve as yet another serious warning to the international community, he added.

“If an Armenian church can be destroyed today and that act presented as a ‘victory’—and, moreover, celebrated with pride—this is not a new phenomenon. It was the same logic under which Azerbaijan’s authorities glorified Ramil Safarov, who axed to death sleeping Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, and responded similarly in the case of the beheading of Kyaram Sloyan. The continuation of this logic means that yet another monument of Artsakh’s Armenian heritage may be placed in danger tomorrow,” Avanesov said referring to past instances when Azerbaijanis barbarically have killed Armenians and were later glorified as heroes by official Baku.

“Cultural genocide begins precisely when the destruction of a monument is no longer perceived as a crime and is instead transformed into a symbol of victory. And international inaction, regardless of the political or other reasons invoked to justify it, effectively creates an environment of impunity,” Avanesov warned.

“The destruction of Stepanakert’s Mother Cathedral must not only be documented; it must become a matter of the international legal and political agenda. Silence, delayed responses, and vague statements are no longer sufficient. To save Artsakh’s Armenian cultural heritage—which represents a universal human value—immediate, systematic, and measurable action is required, while the surviving monuments can still be saved,” he emphasized.

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