In a video circulated on April 21, 2025, it is apparent that Azerbaijani individuals have once again vandalized the gravestones at the occupied Stepanakert memorial cemetery (see link).

Specifically, they deliberately chiseled away and erased the carved faces of the freedom fighters—removing eyes and mouths—from several headstones (Fig. 1). Other tombstones have been broken outright (Fig. 2).

It should be noted that since the complete occupation of Stepanakert, this memorial cemetery has stood under imminent threat of destruction. Numerous videos show visitors to occupied Stepanakert calling for removing the entire monument. For a more detailed discussion, see "Stepanakert Memorial under Threat: Azerbaijan's Desecration of the Cemetery's Tombstones."

Our Response

The desecration of Armenian monuments—including cemeteries—is expressly prohibited by the International Court of Justice. In its December 7, 2021 order in Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Armenia v. Azerbaijan, No. 2021/34), the Court ruled that Azerbaijan must take all necessary measures to prevent and punish acts of vandalism and desecration against Armenian cultural heritage—encompassing, but not limited to, churches, places of worship, monuments, sites, cemeteries, and artifacts.

Moreover, on March 12, 2024, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on closer EU-–Armenia ties and the need for a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Paragraph 19 condemns all acts of destruction, vandalism, and desecration directed at historical and cultural sites that witness Armenia's millennia-old presence.

Under international criminal law, cemetery desecration also constitutes a war crime. Article 8(2)(b)(ix) of the Rome Statute defines "war crimes" to include intentional attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science, or charitable purposes, historic monuments, hospitals, or places where the sick and wounded are collected—provided these are not military objectives.

Finally, by desecrating cemeteries, Azerbaijan breaches Article 4 of the 1954 Hague Convention. That provision obliges Parties to respect cultural property situated both on their own territory and that of other Parties, refraining from any hostile acts that might lead to its destruction or damage.