This sheet provides a collection of published articles reporting the religious freedom violations and other brutalities perpetrated against the Armenians by military units of Azerbaijan. The evidence was compiled from www.azeriwarcrimes.org and from other notable sources. In many cases, the articles highlighted below provide video and photographic evidence of these atrocities directly implicating Azerbaijani military units. These heinous acts are well documented and provide ample proof of the brutality and intent of Azerbaijan erase Armenian cultural and religious heritage from the region. From the evidence presented, it is clear that the Azerbaijani efforts are directed at eradicating all religious identity in the area that is tied to Armenia. The desecration and destruction of churches and other religious sites are a clear example of Azeri motivations. 

Targeting of Religious Sites

  1. Destruction of Crosses and desecration of churches
    • Published on January 11, 2021 

      The article highlights and provides images of Azerbaijani soldiers desecrating crosses, gravestones and other religious sites. 
  1. Deliberate destruction and desecration of Armenian cemeteries and gravesites by Azerbaijan’s armed forces
    • Published on January 11, 2021

      The article provides videos and images of Azerbaijani soldiers deliberately desecrating Armenian cemeteries.
  1. Azerbaijan’s Attacks on the St. Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Shushi, Artsakh
    • Published on January 11, 2021

      “On 8 October 2020, Azerbaijani armed forces launched two intentional assaults on Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral of Artsakh in the town of Shushi, which is the recognizable cultural and religious symbol of Artsakh. The Azerbaijani forces struck the cathedral two times within a few hours with the use of striking and manageable drones. This act of Azerbaijan is in line with its continued practice of destroying the Armenian cultural heritage of Artsakh. It also demonstrates radical disrespect towards the Christian element of Armenian identity.”
  1. Armenian church of St. Mariam Astvatsatsin completely razed to the ground
    • Published on July 4, 2021

      “The Azerbaijani authorities, occupying the Hadrut region of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) after the 2020 war,completely destroyed the Armenian Church of St. Mariam Astvatsatsin (Mother Mary) in Mekhakavan (Jabrayil).”
  1. The Azerbaijanis removed the cross from the Spitak Khach (White Cross) Church
    • Published on January 29, 2022

      “...Azerbaijan consistently continues the policy of destroying cultural heritage and Armenian traces in the occupied territories of the Republic of Artsakh. To the examples of cultural genocide, carried out by Azerbaijan since the end of 2020 in the occupied territories of Artsakh, we can add the church of the “Spitak Khach” (White Cross) in the village of Vank, Hadrut region.

      The story in the link shares has a video, which circulated on Azerbaijani social media and makes clear that the Azerbaijanis removed the cross from the church. Other vadalism also took place in this church. 
  1. An act of vandalism and desecration of the Church of Surb Harutyun in Hadrut
    •  Published on May 1, 2022

      “On April 27, 2022, Azerbaijani pro-government news agencies published materials entitled “Easter celebration in Hadrut”. They also published new photos of Surb Harutyun (Saint Harutyun) church in Hadrut, Karabakh Records reports. The study of photos clearly shows that the cross of the church was removed.”

      “Carpets and ritual accessories are also missing in the territory of the church, and icons have been removed from the walls. The walls of the outer fence of the church were desecrated by various Azerbaijani names.”

Atrocities Against Armenian Soldiers and Civilians

  1. (18+) Torturing POWs, atrocities, looting and vandalism committed by Azerbaijani troops
    • Published on October 8, 2023

      “After ten months of a horrific blockade, Aliyev’s dictatorial regime from 19-20 September of 2023 used military power to exert control over the Artsakh, effectively erasing its indigenous Armenian population and rich cultural heritage.” 

      The article provides photos and videos showing the results of the Azerbaijani military actions after bombing residential areas of Stepanakert. The actions killed Armenian civilians followed by looting of Armenian houses. It also shows the cruel treatment of prisoners of war and the desecration of the corpses of killed soldiers.
  1. (18+) Azerbaijani soldiers torture wounded Armenian prisoners of war
    • Published October 15, 2022

      “On October 11 2022 Azerbaijanis spread another video on their internet platform about how Azerbaijani Soldiers tortured Armenian wounded prisoners of war. They were tortured and killed by Azerbaijanis, after which the Armenian side received their bodies. The video definitely confirms that a large number of Armenian prisoners of war were killed during captivity. This happened in the dugout of one of Verin Shorzha’s positions in the Gegharkunik region of Armenia on September 13 of 2022.”
  1. (18+) Execution of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani soldiers
    • Published on October 2, 2022

      “A video of the deliberate killing of Armenian prisoners of war by Azerbaijani soldiers was spread on Azerbaijani social platforms. The incident took place on September 13 of 2022 during the large-scale aggression unleashed by the Azerbaijani armed forces on the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia.”
  2. (18+) Desecration of female Armenian soldier by Azerbaijani troops
    • Published on September 19, 2022

      “On September 15, 2022, Azerbaijani-run channels on the Telegram messaging app, uploaded video in witch Azeri soldiers filming the mutilated female Armenian soldier.”
  1. (18+) Battering and bullying of Armenian captives by Azerbaijani soldiers
    • Published on November 16, 2021

      The article provides videos depicting the mistreatment of Armenia soldiers by Azerbaijani soldiers. 
  1. (18+) Civilian from Sznek, Artsakh tortured while interrogated by Azerbaijani soldiers
    • Published December 14, 2020

      “On December 4, 2020, a video surfaced on Azerbaijani-owned channels on Telegram messaging app, depicting a brutal interrogation of an Armenian civilian by Azerbaijani soldiers, later identified as Kamo M., a resident of Siznek village in Askeran region of Artsakh (Karabakh). In the cellphone video, Kamo is encircled by a group of armed soldiers of the Azerbaijani army, of whom about five are partially visible in the video. His hands are tied behind his back and his face is already bloodied when the video starts.”

Other Sources: 

  1. Monumental loss: Azerbaijan and 'the worst cultural genocide of the 21st century'
    • Published in March 1, 2019.

      The article discusses:
      “According to a lengthy report published in the art journal Hyperallergic in February, the Azerbaijani government has, over the past 30 years, been engaging in a systematic erasure of the country’s historic Armenian heritage.”
  1. Azerbaijan Escalates Attacks on Armenian Heritage Sites
    • Published December 27, 2023

      “Since Azerbaijani forces invaded the Republic of Artsakh, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, on September 19, forcing more than 100,000 Armenians from their ancestral homelands in an act that has been described as “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide,” at least three Armenian cemeteries and one 19th-century church in the region have been damaged by new and expanding construction work. In addition, numerous other churches, cemeteries, and other historic structures are increasingly being threatened with damage and destruction by encroaching Azeri activities.”
  1. Attacks upon cultural heritage are ‘attacks upon a people’
    • Published October 15, 2021

      “The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is hearing a case brought by Armenia accusing Azerbaijan of racial discrimination. Among several requests, the country is seeking the protection of Armenian cultural heritage sites in Nagorno-Karabakh now under Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction as a result of the ceasefire ending the 2020 war. Cornell University researchers Adam Smith and Lori Khatchadourian have used high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor and document endangered and damaged cultural heritage in the South Caucasus. Their Caucasus Heritage Watch finds the most at-risk are churches, monasteries, cemeteries and other sites from pre-Christian periods through the early 20th century.”
  1. What Cultural Genocide Looks Like for Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh 
    • Published October 12, 2023

      “We know well what happened in Julfa, in Nakhichevan: a spectacular landscape of 16th-century Armenian tombstones was erased from the face the earth by Azerbaijan over a period of years. We know what happened to the Church of the Mother of God in Jebrayil and the Armenian cemetery in the village of Mets Tagher (or Böyük Taglar)—both were completely scrubbed from the landscape using earthmoving equipment like bulldozers. And we know what happened to the Cathedral of Ghazanchetsots in Shushi, which was, in turn, shelled, vandalized with graffiti, “restored” without its Armenian cupola, and now rebranded as a “Christian” temple. The brazenness of these actions, as journalist Joshua Kucera wrote in May 2021, “suggests a growing confidence that [Baku] can remake their newly retaken territories in whatever image they want.”‍
  2. Azerbaijan & Turkey’s Ominous Assault Against Armenians
    • ‍ Published December 29, 2022

      “On January 29, 2015, for instance, Aliyev tweeted: “Armenia is not even a colony, it is not even worthy of being a servant”.”

      “Following the signing of the ceasefire agreement on November 9, 2020 between Azerbaijan and Armenia to suspend the Azeri war against Artsakh, Aliyev addressed the Azeri nation on November 10. He said: We put him [Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan] in his place. We taught him a lesson. We chased them [Armenians] out of our lands like dogs. I said that we would chase them, that we would chase them like dogs, and we chased them, we chased them like dogs. He [Pashinyan] is now signing this document out of fear, knowing that we will come to Aghdam, Kalbajar and Lachin. No-one can stop us. Everyone sees our strength; everyone knows what our iron fist represents. That is why we have driven them out and are perfectly right in doing so. And: “We said that we would drive the enemy out of our lands! We are not interested in any negotiations.””

      “In April of 2021, Aliyev opened a “Military Trophies Park” in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, with displays of helmets and caricatured mannequins of Armenian soldiers to dehumanize them, publicly humiliating Armenian casualties and prisoners of war. Aliyev proudly walked through a gallery of helmets belonging to fallen Armenian soldiers at the park.”
  1. The case of Ramil Safarov
    • Ramil Safarov in an Azerbajani military officer who was convicted of brutally murdering an Armenian Army Lieutenant, Gurgen Margaryan. Ramil axed Gurgen to death with an axe while Gurgen was asleep. Ramil has since become a highly celebrated figure in Azerbaijan for this heinous act. 

      His quotes and subsequent actions are celebrated here: https://safarov.org/en/index.html


Conclusion 

This evidence and widespread reporting is ample proof of Azerbaijan’s agenda to eradicate Armenian historical, religious, and cultural history from the region. Azerbaijan’s actions have been largely ignored by the international community. The Aliyev regime must be held accountable for these actions by the international community. 

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