Fires in Artsakh pose threat to 100 historical monuments 

ArmInfo. As a result of the fires that broke out in the eastern border zone of Artsakh over the past week, about 100 historical and cultural monuments are under threat. This was reported by the press service of the Artsakh Ministry of Culture, which presented a map of the spread of fires based on data  from the NASA LANCE/FIRMS system.

Thus, according to the source, the Tigranakert Historical and  Cultural Reserve in Askeran, the Amaras Monastery Complex, as well as  many monuments located in the vicinity of the Talish community and  other settlements are in the fire zone.

The Ministry drew attention to the fact that, according to data  circulated on social networks, the historical mulberry gardens in the  Artsakh community of Nor Shen have already been damaged by the fire.  "The spread of fire also reached the communities of Nakhijevanik and  Seydishen, where churches and other cultural heritage sites are  located, which are under immediate threat of extinction," the Artsakh  Ministry of Culture emphasized.

In connection with the current situation, the ministry recalled that  Azerbaijan, having de facto control over the territory of Artsakh, in  accordance with international law and conventions on the protection  of cultural heritage, is obliged to ensure the protection of cultural  and natural heritage in the controlled territories. In particular, it  must take urgent measures to extinguish fires and restore the damage  caused.

"International structures and specialized organizations must, within  the framework of their mandate, assess the current situation and take  the necessary steps to preserve the cultural heritage of Artsakh,"  the ministry summarized.

Earlier, former Minister of Culture of Artsakh Sergey Shahverdyan  signaled that the fires that started several days ago in the Akna  region have spread to the village of Talish in the northeast and to  Jrakan and Hadrut in the southeast, practically along the entire  eastern border of the Republic of Artsakh.