Western Azerbaijan Community rebuts Armenian Church’s false claims Over Polish Photo Exhibition

The Armenian Church has issued a statement rife with slander and threats in response to the exhibition “Western Azerbaijan in Our Cultural Memory” held in Warsaw.

The Western Azerbaijan Community asserts  that these actions were undoubtedly carried out with the backing of Armenian authorities, Caliber.Az reports.

This reaction, they say, highlights the Armenian government's persistent reluctance to work toward peace, as well as the deep-seated racism and intolerance prevailing in the country.

The statement was released in collaboration with Monumentwatch — an Armenian initiative comprising historians, archaeologists, and individuals formerly involved in administrative roles during the illegal occupation of Azerbaijan’s sovereign territories by Armenian separatist forces. Despite claiming to protect cultural heritage in the Southwestern regions of Azerbaijan, the group’s actions suggest otherwise, the community noted.

The Western Azerbaijan community has slammed the statement for it's deliberately falsified content which aims to mislead its readers. They have issued a response, highlighting, that “it is worth asking how the Armenian Church and Monumentwatch explain the destruction of 268 out of 269 mosques and the devastation of over 500 Azerbaijani cemeteries on the territory of present-day Armenia. We strongly condemn the actions of the Armenian Church and the extremist organization Monumentwatch, which aim to conceal the truth through threats and slander, promote intolerance, and obstruct the reconciliation process. We call on the international community to pressure Armenia to restore and protect Azerbaijani cultural heritage on its territory.”

A photo exhibition titled “Western Azerbaijan in our cultural memory” is being hosted in central Warsaw since the beginning of April, featuring photos on the rich heritage of Western Azerbaijan, including copies of historical documents, photos of famous cultural figures from Western Azerbaijan, depictions of their creative works, scenes of deportation, and photos of destroyed monuments. The exhibition will remain open until April 28, 2025.

By Nazrin Sadigova