Satellite images show an increase in large-scale destruction of the cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh. Caucasus Heritage Watch

A recent report on Armenian cultural sites published by Caucasus Heritage Watch shows that the number of cultural heritage destructions targeted by Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh has increased by 75% since the fall of 2023.

Confirming experts' warnings about Azerbaijan's destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, a new report from Caucasus Heritage Watch confirms a 75% increase in destroyed sites across the region last year. after the mass displacement of the ethnic Armenian population.

"Through the comparison of satellite images, in the fall of 2023, when more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians were expelled from their homeland by the autocratic Azeri regime. In the spring of 2024, the latest CHW report draws attention to the destruction of historic schools, cemeteries and shrines, and reveals a 29% increase in classified sites in Artsakh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh),” the report stated.

Overall, the spring 2024 monitoring period revealed the largest number of affected sites since spring 2021, when the organization began monitoring cultural heritage following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, the report reported.

"CHW Principal Investigators Ian Lindsey, Adam T. Smith and Lori Khachaduryan noted in their summary that they paid special attention to Azerbaijani activities in the Kalbajar region and the hilltop town of Shushi, which the regime (ed. meaning the government of Azerbaijan) captured during the 2020 44-day war. is in the report.