Official: Armenians sought to falsify history through illegal restoration

Armenian forces carried out illegal restoration work at Khudavang Monastery in Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar district during the occupation in an attempt to falsify history, Sabina Hajiyeva, head of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Culture Ministry, said.

Speaking at the event “Protecting Cultural Heritage and Biodiversity in Turkic Civilization: From Shared Traditions to Joint Action,” held as part of Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026), Hajiyeva said that Armenians illegally removed two frescoes from the monastery after restoring them themselves before leaving the area, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“We have also provided information about this to the international community. I hope the international community will help ensure the return of these examples of our cultural heritage,” Hajiyeva stressed.

She added that the inventory of 130 monuments in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur has not yet been completed because of the mine threat in these areas.

“Alongside large-scale humanitarian demining, Azerbaijan is applying a people- and culture-centered approach to the reconstruction process. Historical monuments are being restored, cultural institutions are reopening, and smart villages and modern cities are being built,” the official noted.

During her address, Hajiyeva also said that Armenians used the Azykh Cave in Azerbaijan’s Khojavend district as a weapons depot during the first years of the occupation.

She added that illegal excavations were subsequently carried out with the involvement of foreign nationals and that numerous artefacts discovered in Azykh Cave were removed from the territory.

“Azerbaijan is one of the most relevant examples when it comes to studying the consequences of occupation and determining what steps should be taken in such circumstances,” she said.

Hajiyeva emphasised that throughout history, cultural heritage has been among the first to suffer the consequences of conflicts and disasters.

“Conflicts not only lead to the destruction of monuments, the looting of cultural property and its illegal removal and transfer abroad, but also disrupt traditions, weaken communities and endanger the cultural identity and memory that connect people to their history and to one another,” Hajiyeva said.

The head of the State Service also called for broader international support for the SECURE initiative, which is due to be presented during the seventh World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue scheduled to take place in Baku in October.

Hajiyeva explained that SECURE is an Azerbaijan-developed approach to restoring cultural heritage and reconstructing cities in the liberated territories.

“We invite governments, international organizations, civil society and professional networks to participate in turning this initiative into a common platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange and practical action,” she said.

By Jeyhun Aghazada