Armenian Churches in Karabakh Reportedly Demolished Amid Access Restrictions

Armenian church shelled in previous clashes with Azerbaijan.

Reports emerging from exiled activists indicate that key religious structures in Nagorno-Karabakh may have been destroyed, based on online imagery analysis (առցանց պատկերների վերլուծություն) [artsants patkernery verlutsutyun] and social media footage (սոցիալական մեդիայի տեսանյութեր) [sotsialakan mediai tesanyuter]. According to these claims, the main Armenian cathedral in Stepanakert and another church are no longer visible in recent videos circulated online by Azerbaijani users.

Sergei Shahverdian, a former culture minister of Karabakh now involved in a cultural heritage preservation campaign (մշակութային ժառանգության պահպանման արշավ) [mshakutayin zharangutyan pahpanman arshav], presented newly surfaced footage from central Stepanakert. The videos reportedly do not show the city’s Holy Mother of God Cathedral. “Artsakh’s Mother Cathedral at the top of Nelson Stepanian Street is missing. The same video also shows it missing from another angle,” he said, referring to the structure’s absence from multiple viewpoints.

Shahverdian further stated: “It’s obvious that the Azerbaijanis have destroyed it,” while emphasizing conclusions drawn from visual comparison evidence (տեսողական համեմատական ապացույց) [tesoghakan hamematakan apatsuyts]. However, these claims remain unverified due to the lack of independent media access (անկախ լրատվամիջոցների մուտք) [ankakh lratvamyotsneri mutq] to the region. Since Azerbaijan regained control of the territory in 2023, external journalists and observers have been unable to conduct on-site verification.

The activist noted that confirmation is pending additional satellite image verification (արբանյակային պատկերների հաստատում) [arbanjakayin patkernery hastatum], which could provide definitive evidence regarding the cathedral’s status. Until such data becomes available, the reported demolition remains unconfirmed.

The Holy Mother of God Cathedral, a prominent structure in Stepanakert, was consecrated in 2019 following nearly 13 years of construction. During the 2020 war, its underground section functioned as a civilian bomb shelter (քաղաքացիական ռմբապաստարան) [kaghakatsiakan rmbapastaran], used by local residents seeking protection during hostilities. Its dual role highlights both religious infrastructure (կրոնական ենթակառուցվածք) [kronakan entakarrutsvatsk] and emergency utility.

Recent reports also reference another Armenian church in the city that may have been destroyed. Photographs published by Armenian media suggest that the smaller structure was completely demolished. Lernik Hovannisian, head of the diocesan council, linked the destruction to Azerbaijani policies targeting buildings deemed unauthorized. He stated: “Under this guise, it was only natural that after the destruction of the Church of St. Jacob, they will also move on to the Holy Mother of God Cathedral,” referring to post-1994 construction claims (1994-ից հետո կառուցված շինությունների պնդումներ) [1994its heto karutsvats shinutyunneri pndumner].

Earlier incidents reinforce concerns about broader patterns affecting religious sites. Following the 2020 conflict, several Armenian churches were reportedly destroyed. In 2022, Azerbaijani authorities announced plans involving the removal of Armenian inscriptions from medieval churches, raising alarm over cultural heritage erasure (մշակութային ժառանգության վերացում) [mshakutayin zharangutyan veratsum]. International observers, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the European Parliament, expressed concern over what was described as heritage trace elimination (ժառանգության հետքերի վերացում) [zharangutyan hetkeri veratsum].

The Armenian government has largely refrained from publicly accusing Azerbaijan of systematic destruction since 2023, despite these developments. It did not respond to the latest reports, prompting criticism from opposition figures. This reflects a shift in official government response (պաշտոնական կառավարության արձագանք) [pashtonakan karavarutyan ardzagank] and public discourse.

In contrast, the Armenian Apostolic Church has continued to address the issue. Catholicos Garegin II raised concerns during a conference organized by the World Council of Churches in Switzerland, highlighting ongoing threats to religious sites. His statements focused on religious property destruction (կրոնական գույքի ոչնչացում) [kronakan guyqi vochinchatsum] and the preservation of sacred landmarks.

The situation remains unresolved due to limited verification and restricted access. Current assessments rely on indirect evidence, pending confirmation through satellite data or independent investigation, underscoring the role of information access limitations (տեղեկատվության հասանելիության սահմանափակումներ) [teghakatuvutyan hasaneliutyan sahmanapakumner] in conflict reporting.

Key Armenian Vocabulary

առցանց պատկերների վերլուծություն [artsants patkernery verlutsutyun] online imagery analysis
սոցիալական մեդիայի տեսանյութեր [sotsialakan mediai tesanyuter] social media footage
մշակութային ժառանգության պահպանման արշավ [mshakutayin zharangutyan pahpanman arshav] cultural heritage preservation campaign
տեսողական համեմատական ապացույց [tesoghakan hamematakan apatsuyts] visual comparison evidence
անկախ լրատվամիջոցների մուտք [ankakh lratvamyotsneri mutq] independent media access
արբանյակային պատկերների հաստատում [arbanjakayin patkernery hastatum] satellite image verification
քաղաքացիական ռմբապաստարան [kaghakatsiakan rmbapastaran] civilian bomb shelter
կրոնական ենթակառուցվածք [kronakan entakarrutsvatsk] religious infrastructure
1994-ից հետո կառուցված շինությունների պնդումներ [1994its heto karutsvats shinutyunneri pndumner] post-1994 construction claims
մշակութային ժառանգության վերացում [mshakutayin zharangutyan veratsum] cultural heritage erasure
ժառանգության հետքերի վերացում [zharangutyan hetkeri veratsum] heritage trace elimination
պաշտոնական կառավարության արձագանք [pashtonakan karavarutyan ardzagank] official government response
կրոնական գույքի ոչնչացում [kronakan guyqi vochinchatsum] religious property destruction
տեղեկատվության հասանելիության սահմանափակումներ [teghakatuvutyan hasaneliutyan sahmanapakumner] information access limitations