Local media
Armenians vandalized and tried to Armenianize historical monuments (AZERTAC)
“Armenian nationalists, who dreamed of realizing their insidious territorial claims against neighboring states and creating a “great Armenia” throughout history, are responsible for pursuing genocidal and terrorist policies and committing grave crimes against humanity. Moreover, they committed acts of vandalism against historical monuments or tried to Armenianize them,” said Bakhtiyar Aliyev, an employee of the Nakhchivan State History Museum.
“In the Azerbaijani territories they occupied in 1992-1993, Armenians illegally changed the architectural structure and interior of the historical and cultural monuments, damaged the wall inscriptions, completely erased a large number of stone inscriptions on the walls of the monuments, as well as the Albanian-era ornaments and symbols,” he said.
Aliyev also pointed out that the Armenians conducted illegal archaeological excavations in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, built churches in ruined villages, changed toponyms and appropriated Azerbaijan's material and cultural patterns.
He noted that under the pretext of repair and restoration, the enemy seriously changed the interior of the Yukhari Govhar Agha mosque in Shusha, the pearl of Karabakh, damaged the artistic and aesthetic values of the historical monument, and allegedly made claims that this monument does not belong to the Azerbaijani people. “All this is another testimony to Armenia’s policy of appropriation. The fact that the Aghdam Juma Mosque, which was burned down a year after its occupation, was used as a stable is known to the entire world community. The Armenians also appropriated and Armenianized historical Albanian Christian churches in our occupied territories,” he added.
Referring to the 2016 April battles, Aliyev said that as a result of provocations by Armenian armed forces, along with settlements in the territories of Aghdam and Tartar districts, historical and religious monuments belonging to the 19th century were subjected to Armenian vandalism, and some mosques were severely damaged.
“The missile attacks carried out by Armenian armed forces on Azerbaijani cities and districts since September 27 this year also inflicted damage on a cemetery in Babi village of Fuzuli district, as well as on the Sheikh Babi tomb, an important historical and architectural monument under the state protection,” he concluded.