“Dedo-Babo” Monument Vandalized by Azerbaijanis
The monument “We Are Our Mountains” (“Dedo-Babo”), which has become a symbol of Artsakh, has once again been subjected to vandalism. The information was reported by the “Geghard” Research Foundation, referencing a publication by Talish journalist Rahim Shaliyev.
Shaliyev published a video on his X microblog showing inscriptions in Azerbaijani on the front section of the statue. In the comments to his post, another user shared a video where Azerbaijani engravings and inscriptions are also visible on different parts of the monument.
Since the Azerbaijani aggression on September 19, 2023, and the subsequent depopulation of Artsakh, photos and videos have regularly appeared on the internet showing the statue being damaged, people taking pictures with the flag of Azerbaijan in front of it, and insulting phrases written targeting Armenians.
Simultaneously, calls to even demolish the statue are being voiced in Azerbaijan. In August, Gudrat Hasanguliyev, a member of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) of Azerbaijan, announced that the monument should be dismantled and a memorial dedicated to the Azerbaijani soldier erected in its place.
We also reported on the monument being vandalized in 2024. At that time, the thesis was put forward that “although the monument was built during the Soviet years with Azerbaijani funds, it has ‘become a symbol of Armenian separatism,’ and therefore must be dismantled.”
The “We Are Our Mountains” monument was built in 1967. It was created by sculptor Sargis Baghdasaryan and architect Yuri Hakobyan from red tuff stone.