Russian cultural envoy calls demolition of Soviet monuments in Artsakh ‘ignoble act’

The demolition of 25 monuments and busts of prominent Armenian military and cultural figures in Nagorno-Karabakh is an ignoble act, Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian President’s Special Representative for International Cultural Cooperation, told TASS.

“Waging war against monuments is not a noble pursuit for any country. They reflect the history of the peoples who have lived on this land. It is just as absurd as the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural monuments in the 1990s. Fighting monuments is far from honorable, but it is crucial to understand that the relationship between Russia and the peoples of the Caucasus spans centuries. We are bound not only by the present but also by our past and future,” Shvydkoy said.

He noted that “politics may dictate culture, but it is fleeting, while culture lives forever.”

“Beyond interstate relations, there are deeper connections between peoples. It is vital to preserve all cultural ties that have historically united us with those living side by side,” Shvydkoy concluded.