On February 18, 2025, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev visited the occupied territory of Artsakh, where he was presented with the work carried out by the Azerbaijani side in the Askeran fortress over the past year, as well as the planned programs (see: https://t.me/bez_tor/61123).

According to Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Adil Kerimlu, extensive work is intended for the Askeran fortress, including the construction of new infrastructure within the fortress, the creation of a recreation area, the conducting of archaeological excavations, and the establishment of a historical and cultural reserve. However, the plan to build a residential complex on the fortress grounds is of more significant concern, as it would disrupt the fortress's historical environment, conservation zone, and archaeological layers. It remains unknown exactly where this residential complex would be located on the fortress grounds or how large it would be. Yet, we can assert that constructing such a complex threatens the fortress, altering its historical appearance and environment.

The video also mentions how the Armenian side has repeatedly "Armenianized" the fortress's appearance—a claim that is both incomprehensible and unacceptable (https://azertag.az/ru/xeber/na_territorii_kompleksa_askeranskoi_kreposti_budet_sozdan_istoricheskii_park_pod_otkrytym_nebom_video-3429191?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0iZUi1_L6w2asb3a5Rl3ypLhvVoPCgInM6Xg1OBWbn4s1ILuKa0itewzk_aem_ecz7SS1H-Q548tEei1NmMA ). For more information about The Fortress of Askeran, see The Fortress of Askeran, https://monumentwatch.org/en/monument/the-fortress-of-askeran/.

Our response

The Azerbaijani initiative to alter the Askeran Fortress poses a serious threat to this historic structure's authenticity and integrity. The 1994 UNESCO Nara Document on Authenticity underscores that the authenticity of cultural heritage must be evaluated within its historical, material, architectural, and cultural contexts. By modifying the fortress's original appearance and structure through new construction, Azerbaijan undermines these principles and jeopardizes the site's historical authenticity.

According to the 1994 Nara Document, "The concept of conservation implies a range of processes aimed at understanding cultural heritage, recognizing its history and significance, promoting public awareness, and restoring and reinforcing it. In this regard, people's ability to understand heritage depends, among other factors, on reliable and authentic knowledge concerning that heritage. The knowledge and proper understanding of the sources of information are necessary for evaluating all aspects of authenticity and reliability."

(UNESCO, Nara Document on Authenticity, Article 9: Values and Authenticity)

Consequently, reliable factual information is essential to comprehend the type, characteristics, significance, and history of cultural heritage. The perception of authenticity thus plays a central role in all processes concerning the preservation of cultural heritage. Notably, in conflict situations, the Nara Document further highlights the imperative of recognizing the legitimacy of cultural values.

On March 10, 2022, the European Parliament adopted the resolution "On the Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh" (No. 2582) by an overwhelming majority. This resolution called on Azerbaijan to refrain from any interference with Armenian heritage sites to uphold the principles of authenticity and to ensure that any restoration efforts adhere to these principles.

(European Parliament Resolution on the Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, 2022/2582(RSP), 2022)