Dear Colleagues,
On the occasion of the New Year and Christmas, I find it necessary to address not only the festive spirit, but also the deep concerns that today accompany the fate of the people of Artsakh and its cultural heritage.
The Armenian population of Artsakh is currently deprived of the fundamental right to celebrate the New Year and Christmas in their historic homeland, Artsakh, due to the occupation of the region by Azerbaijan and the resulting forced displacement. This situation poses a serious challenge not only to the protection of fundamental human rights, but also to the preservation of cultural diversity and historical justice.
The cultural heritage of Artsakh—including churches, monastic complexes, historical monuments, manuscripts, and intangible cultural assets, which undoubtedly hold universal significance—is now at high risk of total destruction and systematic distortion. In the absence of consistent and meaningful action by the international community, this threat is becoming increasingly real and irreversible.
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It is important to emphasize that the inaction or limited application of international mechanisms for the protection of cultural heritage fosters a climate of impunity, facilitating the appropriation of cultural assets, historical revisionism, and physical destruction. This is in direct contradiction to the spirit and letter of international conventions on the protection of cultural heritage.
We reaffirm our position that the protection of Artsakh’s cultural heritage cannot be considered a bilateral or regional issue. It is a universal value and a matter of shared responsibility for the international community. Every day of delay increases the risk of irreversible loss.
On the threshold of the New Year, we call upon international organizations, specialized institutions, and all parties with relevant mandates to take urgent, effective, and visible measures to ensure the continuous monitoring of Artsakh’s cultural heritage, prevent its destruction, and ensure full compliance with international law.
Happy New Year and Merry Christmas.
May the coming year be a milestone for the realization of goals and dreams, filled with hope and faith for new heights, and may it become a year not only of statements, but of responsibility and practical engagement.
Peace to all of us.
Respectfully,
Hovik Avanesov
Artsakh Cultural Heritage Ombudsman, Vice-President of the “National” Historical-Cultural NGO