Modern Challenges to the Preservation of the Armenian Architectural Heritage of Artsakh /Nagorno-Karabakh/

Abstract

 The preservation of the Armenian architectural heritage of Artsakh in the 21st century faces significant challenges, primarily stemming from armed conflicts and ethnocultural and religious intolerance. The wars initiated by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and Armenia, beyond territorial conquest, aim to erase Armenian identity, history, and cultural landscape systematically. Architectural monuments, as tangible evidence of historical Armenian presence in these territories, stand as a cultural obstacle to this agenda. The deliberate destruction of Armenian cultural values and historical and cultural heritage exemplifies Azerbaijan’s long-standing policy of cultural genocide. For over a century, even during peacetime, Armenian Christian heritage in regions such as Nakhichevan and Nagorno-Karabakh has suffered irreversible losses. This destruction continues today at an even larger scale, particularly following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The article presents the vandal actions of Azerbaijan, which began at the time of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1991-1994) and continue to this day, which are carried out against Armenian Christian monuments (Holy All Savior Ghazanchetsots Church and St. Hovhannes Mkrtich Church (St. John the Baptist), or Kanach Zham (Green Church), in Shushi, Gandzasar, Dadivank, Amaras, the monastery complexes of Yegnasar, churches of Tsitsernavank, Vankasar, Tsaghkavank, and many, many others). These actions unfold through various forms, including physical destruction, appropriation, disfigurement, desecration, and changing the primary function of tangible heritage. The principles of authenticity, integrity, and the importance of safeguarding the Armenian historical legacy in the international system for the preservation of the Christian heritage of Artsakh are revealed. Initiatives aimed at preserving the medieval heritage of the region were noted.