The Inter-Church Relations Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin has issued a statement stating ․

“We were saddened to learn that on the night of November 9-10, after the ceasefire statement signed between the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia after the cessation of hostilities in Artsakh, the Azeris who entered the city of Shushi in Artsakh desecrated the St. Savior Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, leaving their mark on the outer and inner walls of the church.

We strongly condemn what happened, describing it as open vandalism and intolerance. Azerbaijan, with its sponsor genocidal Turkey, must not be allowed to continue its policy of cultural genocide, which has been pursued for decades in various forms in Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

At the same time, we call on the international community and inter-religious, inter-church structures to raise their voices and take appropriate steps to stop the Azerbaijani authorities in Artsakh from such barbarism towards religious and cultural monuments and manifestations of anti-Armenian sentiments.

Department of Inter-Church Relations of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.”