Monumentwatch.org has reported a new case of cultural heritage destruction in the village of Haterq, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). A video circulated on TikTok on December 17, 2024, documented the demolition of a World War II memorial by Azerbaijani forces in the occupied territory.
The memorial, constructed between 1965 and 1966 in the village center, stood as a tribute to Haterq’s 400 World War II veterans, of whom 195 lost their lives in the conflict. The monument, which had previously sustained damage during the First Artsakh War and bore visible bullet marks, featured a memorial fountain with the names of fallen villagers inscribed on its surface.
This deliberate destruction violates multiple provisions of international law. Under Article 8 of the Rome Statute, such actions constitute a crime against humanity. The 1954 Hague Convention and its 1999 Second Protocol classify this act as a “serious violation” and a war crime that can be prosecuted in international courts.
Beyond breaching Rules 38-41 of International Humanitarian Law, this action contradicts the International Court of Justice’s position, which affirms that laws protecting cultural property in occupied territories have attained the status of customary international law, making them universally binding for all states.
Since 2020, Azerbaijan has systematically destroyed World War II memorials across Artsakh. Similar fates have befallen the freedom fighters’ memorial in Hadrut, the memorial complex in Shushi dedicated to both World War II and the Artsakh Liberation War victims, and three separate monuments in Azokh village commemorating World War II casualties, First Artsakh War victims, and the Armenian Genocide.
The destruction of these monuments appears to be part of a broader state policy targeting cultural heritage sites. This pattern of destruction has emerged following the 2020 war, raising significant concerns about the preservation of historical and cultural heritage in the region.
This incident underscores the urgent need for international intervention to protect Artsakh’s cultural heritage and prevent further destruction of historical monuments. It represents not only a violation of international law but also an erasure of shared historical memory and cultural identity, demanding immediate attention from the international community and relevant cultural heritage protection organizations.
The systematic nature of these destructions poses a serious threat to the preservation of historical memory and cultural heritage in the region, requiring coordinated international action to prevent further losses and ensure the protection of remaining cultural monuments in occupied territories.
