Azerbaijan slams Russian envoy over silence on Armenian cultural vandalism

Aykhan Hajizada, Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, has once again called attention to the widespread cultural devastation caused during the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijani territories, denouncing what he described as ongoing indifference by the international community.

Hajizada took to the social platform X to highlight the issue, Caliber.Az reports.

Armenian vandalism in action! This is to fill the knowledge gap of those who never raised voice about destruction of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage.

Армянский вандализм в действии! Это ликбез для тех, кто ни разу не высказался в защиту уничтоженного культурного наследия… pic.twitter.com/auAy7qj2JW

— Aykhan Hajizada (@Aykhanh) August 1, 2025

“Armenian vandalism in action! This is to fill the knowledge gap of those who never raised voice about destruction of Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage,” the Foreign Ministry official noted.

His remarks come amid renewed diplomatic tension following a statement by Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation, regarding the removal of a bust of Russian-Armenian painter Ivan Aivazovsky in Khankendi.

The comment by Shvydkoy prompted a swift and firm response from Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry.

Addressing Shvydkoy’s accusations that Azerbaijan was engaging in a “war on monuments” and attempting to “cancel” Russian culture, Hajizada pushed back strongly.

“Mr. Shvydkoy’s allegations about the so-called ‘cancellation’ of Russian culture in Azerbaijan are nothing but another lie. Despite the significant disparity in this field between the two countries, Russian culture has not been canceled in Azerbaijan. For example, while there are Russian-language theaters, schools, and publications in Azerbaijan, there are no Azerbaijani-language theaters, schools, newspapers, or magazines in Russia. Despite this disparity, we do not make allegations about the ‘cancellation’ of Azerbaijani culture in Russia. However, high-ranking Russian officials should be aware that if their anti-Azerbaijani actions and statements continue, this disparity in cultural representation may be addressed and adjusted by Azerbaijan accordingly.”

Hajizada also criticised Shvydkoy for remaining silent during his visit to the liberated Azerbaijani city of Shusha, where evidence of Armenian vandalism against Azerbaijani cultural monuments is widespread.

“It is also regrettable that during Mr. Shvydkoy’s recent visit to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, particularly to the city of Shusha, where he witnessed the vandalism committed against the monuments of Azerbaijani cultural figures such as Natavan, Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Bulbul, and others—as well as the widespread destruction on Azerbaijani territory—he failed to show the courage to publicly condemn these acts,” Hajizada added.

By Vafa Guliyeva