"We are saddened to learn that after the announcement of the joint statement of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on the cessation of hostilities in Artsakh, the Azeris who entered the Artsakh city of Shushi, desecrated the Ghazanchetsots Church in Shushi, leaving their marks on the church's exterior and interior walls", the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin informs about that.
"We strongly condemn what happened, describing it as open vandalism and manifestation of intolerance. Azerbaijan, with its sponsor, genocidal Turkey, should not be allowed to continue its policy of cultural genocide, which has been carried out for decades in various forms in Azerbaijan and in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic which is a part of it.
At the same time, we call on the international community and inter-religious and inter-church organizations to raise their voices and take appropriate steps to stop such barbarism and anti-Armenian sentiments by the Azerbaijani authorities towards religious and cultural monuments in Artsakh", the statement said.
