As part of the parliamentary inquiry “Erasing the Past: Destroying Cultural Heritage,” officially launched in the UK Parliament, the Artsakh Union spoke out against Azerbaijan’s genocidal policies and defended Artsakh’s endangered historical and cultural heritage. This was stated in a statement published by the Artsakh Union.
“At the inaugural session on February 23, Artsakh Union President Artak Beglaryan delivered a keynote speech. In his address, he presented to British parliamentarians and international legal experts comprehensive facts about the destruction of Artsakh’s cultural heritage, the forced displacement of the population, the current situation of the people of Artsakh, and the violation of the rights of Armenian prisoners of war.”
Artak Beglaryan emphasized the need for international monitoring and the implementation of preventive mechanisms that will contribute to the protection of the heritage and property of the people of Artsakh under Azerbaijani occupation, in accordance with the decisions of the International Court of Justice. He also emphasized the need to realize the right of return of the people of Artsakh and international support, emphasizing its importance in ensuring a just, dignified, and sustainable peace.
Following Beglaryan’s oral presentation, the Artsakh Union subsequently presented a comprehensive report to the British Parliament and the International Bar Association, jointly prepared by the Artsakh Union and the Artsakh Department of Culture and Tourism. The NGO published the report, “Systematic Destruction and Appropriation of Armenian Cultural Heritage in Artsakh by Azerbaijan (2020-2026).”
The report documents the deliberate destruction and appropriation of Armenian churches, cemeteries, monuments, and museum collections, presenting irrefutable evidence that Azerbaijan’s actions are genocidal in nature and aimed at destroying the Armenian heritage in Artsakh and preventing the return of the indigenous population to their homeland.
The investigation is being conducted with the support of the International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group chaired by Brendan O’Hara MP. It will consist of five stages, culminating in the publication of a final report for the UK government and international organizations.