ARF’s Hai Dat condemns Azerbaijan’s destruction of Surb Astvatsatsin church in Stepanakert

The Central Council of the Hai Dat Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun has strongly condemned the demolition of the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in occupied Stepanakert by Azerbaijani authorities.

“This act, carried out on the eve of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, marks a grave escalation in the systematic destruction of Armenian cultural and spiritual heritage in Artsakh. Consecrated in 2019, the cathedral was a symbol of the revival of Armenian religious life and the continuity of Armenian presence in Artsakh. Its demolition, confirmed by satellite imagery, follows previous attacks on Armenian cultural and religious sites and reflects a broader, deliberate campaign to erase Armenian historical heritage.

These actions constitute serious violations of international law and UNESCO legal norms protecting cultural heritage, and contradict rulings of the International Court of Justice requiring Azerbaijan to prevent and punish such acts.

The Hai Dat Central Council expresses deep concern over the absence of an adequate international response. Continued silence risks entrenching impunity and undermines the prospects for justice and the safe return of displaced Armenians.

We call for the establishment of independent international monitoring of cultural and religious heritage in the affected areas; targeted measures to ensure accountability for deliberate destruction; greater prioritization of heritage protection within international engagement in the South Caucasus; and immediate legal and diplomatic action by Armenia, including recourse to international judicial mechanisms.

The destruction of cultural heritage is an attack not only on the identity of a particular people, but on the shared heritage of all humanity and it demands a swift and principled international response,” the statement reads.