Surb Hakob Church in Stepanakert destroyed

ArmInfo.  Azerbaijani occupation forces have razed the Surb Hakob Church in Stepanakert. This was announced in a statement by the Artsakh Diocese of the  Armenian Apostolic Church. 

"We strongly condemn the complete destruction of the Surb Hagop  Church in Stepanakert by the Azerbaijani occupation regime. For many  years, the Surb Hagop Church was the center of spiritual life in  Stepanakert. This cultural genocide, carried out systematically and  at the state level, continues before the eyes of the entire world.

We once again call on the relevant international organizations to  intervene to stop this obvious vandalism and prevent the destruction  of Artsakh's spiritual and cultural heritage, which is a common  Christian treasure," the statement of the Artsakh Diocese of the  Armenian Apostolic Church reads.

It should be noted that the cultural genocide in Artsakh is taking  place against the backdrop of the tacit encouragement of the  so-called civilized international community. Day after day, the  Azerbaijani occupiers are destroying sites that bear witness to the  millennia-long presence of Armenians on this land.