Konstantin Zatulin describes demolition of Aivazovsky’s monument by Azerbaijan as vandalism

The demolition of the monument to Russian painter Ivan Aivazovsky in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, by Azerbaijani authorities is an example of vandalism, encouraged and promoted at the state level, Konstantin Zatulin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, said in an interview with Lenta. ru.

“In addition to being a barbaric act, it—like many acts of barbarism—is frankly foolish, unintelligent in nature. Aivazovsky is a universally acclaimed genius of painting, valued not only in our Russian Empire but across the world,” he said.

According to the MP, “those remarkable opponents of Armenian cultural influence, now wielding power in the territory of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, did not stop at removing Aivazovsky’s monument.”

“By now, they have already managed to desecrate monuments honoring glorious Soviet military commanders, natives of the Armenian village of Chardakhlu, have endorsed the demolition of religious monuments, and destroyed a large number of khachkars—that is, memorial crosses,” he said.

Zatulin further noted that Azerbaijani officials are actively promoting a narrative questioning the Armenian origins of historical and cultural landmarks in Karabakh. “We’re talking about monasteries dating back to the 6th, 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries,” he specified.

“This is barbarism, and attempts to somehow justify it with tense relations with today’s Russia or, let’s say, today’s Armenia. And the country’s authorities either turn a blind eye or directly encourage these barbaric acts,” Zatulin concluded.