As can be clearly seen from the satellite image published on the website of The Caucasus Heritage Watch (https://caucasusheritage.cornell.edu/?p=1411 ), Azerbaijan dug bunkers in the territory of the Armenian early medieval necropolis at the settlement of Gyavurkala (literally translated as “fortress of the infidels”), located in Haykajur village (former Azerbaijani Sofullu) of Martakert region of the Republic of Artsakh.

Gyavurkala is the largest early medieval necropolis in the Artsakh steppe after Tigranakert (for more details see: https://www.tigranakert.am/environment/?id=2 ). It occupies an area of ​​2 hectares and is surrounded by an earthen rampart. There is a one-nave church of the 5th-6th centuries, built of polished stones, on the walls of which cross compositions are carved. The early medieval obelisk still stands intact. As can be seen from the satellite image and the topographic map of the city (Fig. 2), the early medieval necropolis (Fig. 2/2) is located to the east of the church (Fig. 2/a).

It was here, in the city necropolis (Fig. 3-6), where bunkers have been recently dug, that the earliest Armenian inscription in the Artsakh steppe was discovered in the 50s of the last century (for more details, see: Gyavurkala Early Christian settlement and the church). It is possible that other sarcophagi bearing Armenian inscriptions may be found in this area.

Our response

In fact, Azerbaijan persistently continues to destroy the Armenian trace in the occupied territories. There are great fears that such bunkers will be installed on the territory of the settlement itself.

According to Article 4.1 of the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict of 1954, “... The High Contracting Parties undertake to respect cultural property situated within their own territory as well as within the territory of other High Contracting Parties by refraining from any use of the property and its immediate surroundings or of the appliances in use for its protection for purposes which are likely to expose it to destruction or damage in the event of armed conflict; and by refraining from any act of hostility directed against such property” (https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?DocID=75856).

According to Article 53 of the First Protocol of the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949, it is prohibited "to commit any acts of hostility directed against the historic monuments, works of art or places of worship which constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples; to use such objects in support of the military effort; to make such objects the object of reprisals." Azerbaijan once again flagrantly violates its obligations under the international conventions.