Investigation into the destruction of cultural heritage in Artsakh launched in the UK Parliament
The inaugural session of the parliamentary inquiry regarding Artsakh, titled “Erasing the Past: The Destruction of Cultural Heritage,” was held in the UK Parliament.
The inquiry is dedicated to examining facts concerning the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh.
As stated on the Parliament’s official website, the authors of the initiative note that the deliberate destruction of cultural heritage during or after armed conflicts has become a more frequent phenomenon. Cultural heritage is a vital testament to a people’s identity and history, and its damage or destruction—in both tangible and intangible forms—is a loss not only for the given community but also for the entire international community.
The inquiry aims to: assess the scale and nature of the destruction of cultural heritage in Artsakh following the escalation of the conflict in 2023, as well as attempts to erase traces of the Armenian presence; examine the legal steps taken to date, highlighting successful practices and gaps; and present recommendations to the UK Government and international actors regarding providing support to the community.
At the same time, the initiative provides a platform for victims and civil society organizations to make their voices heard and participate in the process of formulating recommendations.
The inquiry is planned to be carried out in five stages: preliminary mapping through the study of existing evidence of cultural destruction and legal responses; acceptance of open applications; organization of 2-3 public hearings with the participation of experts and witnesses; publication of the final report; and the presentation of results and recommendations to the UK Government, other states, and international organizations.
Artak Beglaryan, President of the “Union of Artsakh” and former Human Rights Ombudsman of the Republic of Artsakh, delivered a speech during the first session.
The investigation is being conducted by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) in cooperation with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Law, Justice and Accountability and the APPG for Armenia.
