The statement by the Etchmiadzin Church on April 23 regarding the demolition of two illegal buildings in the city of Khankendi, Azerbaijan, is a manifestation of hostility and disinformation.
elchi reports that this was noted in a statement issued by the Caucasus Muslims Office (CMU) regarding the matter.
The statement notes that Etchmiadzin, which remained silent for decades while Azerbaijan’s historical, religious, and cultural monuments were destroyed and desecrated during the occupation, is now making unfounded accusations against Azerbaijan at a sensitive time when a normalization process is underway between the two countries, which is a failed attempt to politicize the issue:
“The demolition of two buildings illegally constructed in Khankendi during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories can in no way be distorted as the destruction of religious or cultural heritage. Thus, after Azerbaijan fully restored its state sovereignty over its territories in 2023, it kept these illegal buildings, which were symbols of the occupation, in their existing state throughout this period. However, in recent months, former internally displaced persons who have been returning to their native lands in large numbers have repeatedly appealed to state bodies and local courts for the demolition of all buildings that did not exist in these areas before the occupation period.
It is known that, according to international humanitarian law, buildings constructed by an occupying state in occupied territory without consent are considered illegal regardless of their purpose and, as a rule, should be demolished at the expense of the occupying state. For this very reason, there is both a legal and moral basis for the demolition of all buildings subsequently constructed illegally in these areas, where Azerbaijanis were murdered and expelled during the First Karabakh War. It should be noted that Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries where mosques, churches, and synagogues are located side by side, which demonstrates our people’s deep-rooted culture of religious tolerance and respect for all religions. For centuries, places of worship and communities belonging to various religions, including Orthodox, Catholic, and Jewish communities, have operated freely in Azerbaijan.
Remaining committed to this tradition today, the Azerbaijani state is restoring religious and cultural monuments that were destroyed and desecrated during the occupation at its own expense. Among these, it is particularly necessary to emphasize the recent restoration of the (Armenian) Ghazanchetsots Church located in Shusha, as well as the state protection of the Armenian church located in Baku throughout the entire conflict. In general, the continuous preservation, restoration, and protection of places of worship belonging to various confessions throughout the country have clearly demonstrated our state’s and society’s respect for religious pluralism. Attempts by Etchmiadzin to distort this reality, which has existed in Azerbaijan for centuries, at such a sensitive time serve only to undermine efforts aimed at lasting peace in the region. Such attempts, aimed at resorting to political provocations left over from the past and preventing the establishment of lasting peace in the region, must be put to an end once and for all.”