Geghard Foundation: "We Are Our Mountains" monument vandalized in  occupied Stepanakert

ArmInfo.Azerbaijan has once again vandalized a symbol of Artsakh, the "We Are Our Mountains" monument (Grandfather and Grandmother - ed.) in occupied Stepanakert, as reported by the press service of the Geghard Scientific and Analytical Foundation, citing a post by Azerbaijani journalist of  Talysh descent Rahim Shaliyev on  X (formerly Twitter - ed.).

According to the source, Shaliyev published a video showing various  inscriptions in Azerbaijani on the front of the monument. Moreover,  as Geghard noted, another user posted another video in the comments  to this post, which also shows engravings and inscriptions in  Azerbaijani on various parts of the monument.

The  foundation noted that " since September 19, 2023, after  Azerbaijan's military aggression against Artsakh, the subsequent  ethnic cleansing and Armenian exodus, the "We Are Our Mountains"  statue has been the target of Azerbaijanis. During this time, various  photos and videos have been regularly circulated on the Internet,  showing vandalism of the statue, taking photos near the monument with  the Azerbaijani flag, and making and posting offensive statements  against Armenians."

From time to time, there are even statements in Azerbaijan about the  demolition of this Armenian monument. in August of this year, Gudrat  Hasanguliyev, a deputy of the Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan and chairman  of the "Justice, Law, Democracy" party, proposed demolishing the  statue which has become a symbol of Armenian nationalists and  Armenian separatism and to erect a majestic monument in honor of an  Azerbaijani soldier in its place.

The scientific and analytical foundation noted that even of the  International Court of Justice of December 7, 2021, does not deter  Azerbaijan from taking steps to destroy the Armenian religious and  cultural heritage of Artsakh. The court obliged Azerbaijan to "take  all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and  desecration that affect the Armenian cultural heritage:" Despite its  policy of cultural vandalism in Artsakh, yesterday Azerbaijan was    reelected as a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee,  committing to preserving cultural monuments.

"It  is obvious that the Armenian religious, historical and cultural  heritage of Artsakh continues to be endangered. Baku has not and will  not abandon the process of eradicating the Armenian trace from the  settlements of Artsakh, changing the face of their Armenian identity  and Azerbaijaniizing them, " the Foundation stated.