Ombudsman for Cultural Heritage: One of the largest acts of cultural  genocide in the 21st century currently taking place  in Artsakh

ArmInfo.  One of the largest acts of cultural genocide in  the 21st century is currently taking place in Artsakh, as noted in the statement of the Ombudsman for the Cultural  Heritage of the Armenian Highlands, in relation to another act of  vandalism being carried out by the Azerbaijani side on continuous  basis in occupied Artsakh.

As reported by the Ombudsman for Cultural Heritage, based a  preliminary analysis of satellite photographs, a monument dedicated  to the Great Patriotic War (WWII) was found to be completely  destroyed in the village of Yemishjan in the Martuni region of  occupied Artsakh.  The statement emphasizes that the  destruction of  monuments and memorials dedicated to the Great Patriotic War by  Azerbaijan in  occupied Artsakh has reached an unprecedented scale.  Additionally, the Ombudsman pointed out that the destruction of  monuments has especially intensified on the eve of the 80th  anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and in the days  following. 

In this regard, it is mentioned that Article 243.4 of the Criminal  Code of Russia also includes punishment for acts of vandalism against  monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War outside the country.

The Ombudsman  for the Cultural Heritage also condemned the episode  when the "bearer of the ideology of fascism, a supporter of  xenophobia", the first lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva was  awarded a high honor by the Patriarch of All Rus'. In his statement,  the Ombudsman noted that he expects a reaction from the Russian  Orthodox Church regarding the vandalism carried out by the  Azerbaijani state against the Armenian cultural heritage. "We hope  that this will receive the appropriate assessment, as history  connects the friendship of our peoples with strong spiritual ties  dating back centuries, from the era of Kievan Rus to the victory in  the Great Patriotic War," the statement concluded.