Geghard: Azerbaijan continues its policy of erasing and appropriating  Armenian cultural identity

ArmInfo.Azerbaijan is attempting to portray the Ghazanchetsots Church of the Holy Savior in occupied Shushi, a war crime site, as an alleged "Albanian temple," continuing its policy of erasing and appropriating Armenian cultural  identity, as noted in a statement issued by the Geghard Scientific  and Analytical Foundation.

The Foundation recalled that on October 9, Baku hosted an  international conference, "Joining Efforts and Expanding Cooperation  to Resolve the Issue of Missing Persons," which also included a tour  of conference participants to the occupied territories of Artsakh,  including the city of Shushi. Participants toured the city and also  visited the Church of the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots in Shushi, which  was shelled by Baku during the 44-day war.

Photos of the Armenian church published by Azerbaijani media show  that Baku appears to have completed the arbitrary renovation work  being carried out there, as no traces of construction are visible.  According to the published photos, the cross on the church dome is  missing.

Geghard stated that the visit to the Church of the Holy Savior  Ghazanchetsots in Shushi was once again used to distort the Armenian  heritage of Artsakh. "The international conference organized by Baku,  as well as the tour of the occupied territories of Artsakh,  particularly the city of Shushi, carried out within its framework,  testify to Azerbaijan's developed political strategy aimed at  reshaping and denying the Armenian historical and cultural heritage  of Artsakh.  Azerbaijan's official statements, through political  manipulation of history and culture, about presenting the church as  "Aghvan" and eliminating "false Armenian traces," not only violate  the norms of international law, but also aim to erase traces of  Armenian identity in Artsakh," the Foundation noted.