‘We cannot sit idly by’: Viktor Nadein-Raevsky on fate of Armenia cultural heritage in Artsakh 

Russian expert in Oriental Studies, senior researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences Viktor Nadein-Raevsky commented to Alpha News on the fate of the Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh after the exodus of the Armenian population.

“The international legal meaning will not give much as Azerbaijan could not care less about it. Azerbaijanis destroyed Armenian churches back in Soviet times, sent khachkars to stone crushers, then they declared them Albanian. Numerous churches, monuments to all Armenian war heroes, marshals of the Soviet Union, have been destroyed. We must, of course, use the influence of the world community, but it is more interested in obtaining Azerbaijani oil and gas than in preserving Armenian cultural monuments. Moreover, few people know anything about them.

Now there is a generation of politicians who are very poorly informed about the cultural heritage of peoples, and, as a rule, they do not know history. Therefore, I am skeptical about the help of the international community, but we have to try,” he said.

“The Christianity is of little interest to Muslim Shiite Azerbaijan, as you know. That is why, everything will be quite complicated. But we cannot sit idly by. Both the international community and international courts for already destroyed monuments have to be involved in this process,” Nadein-Raevsky said.

The expert is convinced that large Christian denominations will not remain indifferent to the fate of Artsakh’s Christian heritage. It could be the most effective way to resolve this problem.

“Gandzasar, the gem of all Armenia, where the head of John the Baptist is buried, is located there. This monument is recognized by the Catholic Church. For the Catholic Church, this is also a sacred place, that is, it must use all the possibilities and all the options. Of course, it is necessary to involve both the Christian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, since we are talking about the heritage of all Christianity. I am sure that the Pope will also come out in support. No doubt, our Patriarch will as well,” he said.