Today is the birthday of famous marine artist Hovhannes (Ivan) Aivazovsky. On this day, we note with regret that the Aivazovsky monument erected in Stepanakert in 2021 was destroyed by the Azerbaijani occupation administration after the entire population of Artsakh was forcibly deported from their homeland in 2023. This was reported in a press release by the Agency for Tourism and Cultural Development.
“The author of the monument is sculptor S. Shcherbakov. It is dedicated not only to the world-famous Armenian artist, but also to the ties that connect Artsakh with the Armenian and national cultural heritage.
The destruction of the monument is further evidence of the systematic destruction of the Armenian cultural presence in Artsakh. We continue to document, record and publicize the facts of the destruction of cultural property, confident that they will not be forgotten and that the international community will form a worthy assessment.”