Aravot Daily asked the cultural advisor to the Minister of Education and Science of Artsakh, Melania Badalyan, about the fate that awaits the valuable cultural heritage contained in the museums of Shushi, which remained in the fortress city after it was taken over by Azerbaijan. We also asked if any steps are being taken to preserve the heritage.
She said that steps are being taken, and the minister will be able to provide more comprehensive information on that. “I am in Stepanakert, and I spoke with the minister yesterday. Before all of this, I suggested that we move all of the valuables, but everything took place in such a way that no one thought we could have found ourselves in this situation. Even in my wildest nightmares, it was impossible to imagine that the fate of Shushi could be decided this way. I warned that we should transport all of our valuables to a safer place. The minister held consultations with museum directors who assured her that all of the valuables are wrapped and stored in safe places. In any case, I suggested it since the Historical-Geological Museum of Artsakh was in danger, so I asked for the appropriate measures to be taken. I also appealed to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of Armenia, and the deputy minister of the culture sector, and I am grateful to them that they took measures for the Geological Museum, the Tigranakert SNPO, and even for the Shushi Carpet Museum where we had valuable Armenian carpets. Those valuables were moved to safe places. But unfortunately, we had problems surrounding the museums in Shushi,” the advisor said.
Badalyan added, “In any case, serious efforts are being made to save the valuables that we have listed. Work is being done in that direction. There have been many agreements that suggest that we will be successful.”
When asked if those agreements were made with the Russian side, Melania Badalyan said, “I do not know the details. I tried to confirm it with the minister. She only said that efforts are being made. That is all I know.”
Read also
The deputy minister of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport of Armenia, Narine Khachaturyan, said earlier that she is not responsible for the work carried out by the government of Artsakh and the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture of Artsakh, and they have already done so much that they do not wish to announce at the moment.
Gohar Hakobyan
