Azerbaijan is targeting the monuments of Vank village

Several monuments placed by benefactor Levon Hayrapetyan, which adorned the village and symbolized its renewal, have disappeared from the territory of the occupied Vank village in Artsakh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU_VfjV9RoY). In particular, several small statues and the bust of benefactor Levon Hayrapetyan's father, Gurgen Hayrapetyan, located in the yard of the village school, are missing. The bust, created by the renowned sculptor Aleksan Babayan, and the small statues were installed in 2007 (Fig. 1).

It can be assumed that the statues and busts were either vandalized or looted, as they were made of metal. Videos depict that the village school and kindergarten have been looted.

The Azerbaijani side has also removed the Armenian writing "Vank" (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mIbK0OkeYWk) from the pedestals of the symbolic lions (Fig. 5) located at the village entrance. These pedestals originally featured lion statues created by sculptor Aleksan Babayan (pictures 2-4). The lion statues were installed in 2010-2011. According to the sculptor, the design of the lions was inspired by the lion-like images found at the Gandzasar Monastery (Fig. 6), which are traditionally associated with the Hasan-Jalalyan dynasty. Levon Hayrapetyan, the client, used this inspiration to create a lion-themed environment, including the village entrance, the memorial, and the famous rock formation known as "The Lion" (Fig. 7). This project is cited as an example of the collaboration between the sculptor and architect, reflecting both traditional motifs and the client's vision (according to the author's oral report).

It is evident from the same video that the complex near the rock lion has been vandalized and plundered.

Fig. 1 The bust of Gurgen Hayrapetyan, photo from https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=417698213799092&set=a.417698197132427.

Fig. 2 The lions at the entrance to Vank village, photo by H. Petrosyan.

Fig. 3 The entrance lions, details, photo by H. Petrosyan.

Fig. 4 The entrance lions, details, photo by H. Petrosyan.

Fig. 5 The damaged pedestal, photo taken from a video posted on YouTube by @Kelbecerli, video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mIbK0OkeYWk.

Fig. 6 The bas-relief in the form of a lion on the wall of the Gandzasar monastery, photo by H. Petrosyan.

Fig. 7 The rock lion of Vank village, photo by H. Petrosyan.