COMMISSION OF RUSSIA’S PUBLIC CHAMBER CONDEMNS VANDALISM IN NAKHIJEVAN
AZG Armenian Daily
19/05/2006
On May 17, the commission on culture and spiritual heritage of
Russia’s Public Chamber headed by Metropolit Kliment discussed the
alarming issue of annihilation of Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan,
Azerbaijan, that was raised at a recent roundtable in Moscow. Despite
UNESCO’s efforts, Azerbaijani vandals destroyed the remaining 4.000
khachkars (stone crosses) in New Jugha.
According to Yerkramas newspaper, 27.000 Armenian monuments – churches,
monasteries and chapels – dated 7-19 century were destroyed during the
years of Azerbaijani rule in Nakhijevan. The state-backed vandalism
is aimed at wiping away the Armenian trace in Nakhijevan.
The commission unanimously condemned the vandalism in New Jugha
as well as expressed willingness jointly with other commissions of
the Public Chamber to inquire after the state of foreign cultural
monuments in Azerbaijan.