Congressman Adam Schiff and 47 US Representatives penned a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging the preservation of Armenian cultural, historical, and religious sites in Artsakh. The letter highlighted the destruction of these vulnerable sites, emphasizing the need for swift action to protect them.
Notably, the letter cited Cornell University’s Caucasus Heritage Watch, which reported that Azerbaijan was responsible for destroying 98% of Armenian cultural heritage sites in Nakhchivan between 1997 and 2011. With Azerbaijan’s recent military offensive in Artsakh, there is evidence of continued destruction of Armenian culture in the region.
The letter specifically pointed out the reconstruction of St. John the Baptist Church in Shushi by Azerbaijan as an example of erasing Armenian heritage. It called on the Department of State to address these concerns and prevent further destruction of Armenian cultural sites.
Overall, the letter stressed the importance of protecting these sites and urged US diplomats to prioritize this issue in their meetings with Azerbaijani officials. It emphasized the need for immediate action to prevent the erasure of Armenian history and culture in the region.