STATEMENT
14.09.2026
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin strongly condemns the recent statements made by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, during his visit to the Gandzasar and Dadivank monastic complexes, denying their Armenian identity and presenting them as Albanian, as well as his mocking attitude towards the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Armenian people.
These attempts to distort historical facts for the sake of political expediency constitute blatant falsification and an encroachment upon the historical memory and spiritual heritage of the Armenian people. Such practices are an overt manifestation of the anti-Armenian policy pursued by Azerbaijan’s authorities.
This latest propaganda visit is aimed at misleading the international community.
It is particularly regrettable and concerning that foreign diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan and representatives of international organizations are being drawn into the dissemination of historical falsifications.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin expects them to duly assess the distortion of the identity of Armenian holy sites, the encroachments upon the spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh, and the anti-Armenian policy, and, through their participation, not contribute to justifying the policy of appropriating Armenian historical heritage.
The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church has repeatedly warned that, following the forced expulsion of Armenians from Artsakh, the Azerbaijani authorities have pursued a policy of appropriating historical monuments, destroying Armenian holy sites, khachkars, and cemeteries, as well as destroying documentary evidence attesting to their identity. Hajiyev’s statements constitute another manifestation of this policy.
The ongoing encroachments upon the Armenian spiritual and cultural heritage of Artsakh must receive due assessment from the authorities of the Republic of Armenia, and effective steps must be taken to prevent them.
The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin calls upon friendly states and international and national institutions to make every effort to prevent the further destruction and appropriation of the ancient Christian Armenian heritage.
Establishing a lasting peace in the region requires respect for the faith, historical memory, and fundamental rights of peoples.
Preserving the spiritual heritage of Artsakh in its entirety, as well as realizing the rights of the Armenian Church and people who created this heritage, constitutes an inalienable international obligation.
