The statement of the Etchmiadzin Church dated April 23 regarding the demolition of two illegal buildings in the city of Khankendi, Azerbaijan, is a manifestation of hostility and disinformation.
Medianews.az reports that this information was reflected in the statement issued by the Caucasian Muslims Office regarding the claims.
"The issue of Etchmiadzin, which remained silent during the decades-long destruction and desecration of Azerbaijan's historical, religious, and cultural monuments during the occupation, now making unfounded accusations against Azerbaijan amid a sensitive period of normalization between the two countries, is an unsuccessful attempt to politicize the matter.
The demolition of two illegally constructed buildings in Khankendi during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories cannot in any way be distorted as the destruction of religious or cultural heritage. Indeed, after Azerbaijan fully restored its state sovereignty over its territories in 2023, it maintained these illegal buildings, symbols of the occupation, in their existing state throughout this period. Nevertheless, in recent months, forcibly displaced persons returning en masse to their native lands have repeatedly appealed to state authorities and local courts for the demolition of all buildings that did not exist on these lands before the occupation. It is known that under international humanitarian law, buildings constructed without consent by the occupying state in the occupied territory are considered illegal regardless of their purpose and should typically be demolished at the expense of the occupying state. For this reason, there are both legal and moral grounds for demolishing all illegally constructed buildings in these areas, where Azerbaijanis were killed and expelled during the First Karabakh War.
It should be noted that Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries where mosques, churches, and synagogues are located side by side, reflecting our people's deeply rooted culture of religious tolerance and respect for all faiths. Over the centuries, places of worship and communities belonging to different religions, including Orthodox, Catholic, and Jewish communities, have operated freely in Azerbaijan. Today, remaining faithful to this tradition, the Azerbaijani government is restoring religious and cultural monuments destroyed and desecrated during the occupation at its own expense. Among these, the recent restoration of the (Armenian) Ghazanchetsots Church in Shusha and the protection by the state of the Armenian church located in Baku throughout the conflict should be especially emphasized. Overall, the continuous preservation, restoration, and protection of places of worship belonging to various confessions throughout the country's territory has always clearly demonstrated our state and society's respect for religious pluralism.
Attempts by Etchmiadzin to distort this reality, which has existed for centuries in Azerbaijan, at such a sensitive time only serve to undermine efforts aimed at achieving sustainable peace in the region.
Such attempts to resort to political provocations from the past and to prevent the establishment of lasting peace in the region must be ended once and for all," the statement said. //Milli.Az