BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 27. The statement of
the Church of Echmiadzin of 23 April regarding the demolition of
two illegal buildings in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, is a manifestation
of hostility and disinformation, the statement of the Caucasus
Muslims’ Board says, Trend reports.


"At a sensitive time when the normalization process between the
two countries is underway, baseless accusations against Azerbaijan
by Echmiadzin, which has remained silent about the destruction and
insult of historical, religious, and cultural monuments of
Azerbaijan for decades during the occupation, is a failed attempt
to politicize the issue.


The demolition of two buildings illegally constructed in
Khankendi during the occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories cannot
be distorted in any way as the destruction of religious or cultural
heritage. Thus, after Azerbaijan fully restored state sovereignty
over its territories in 2023, it has maintained these illegal
buildings, which are symbols of the occupation, in their existing
state throughout this period. However, in recent months, former
internally displaced persons who have returned to their homelands
in large numbers have repeatedly appealed to state bodies and local
courts to demolish all structures that did not exist in these
territories before the occupation. It is known that, according to
international humanitarian law, structures built by an occupying
power in an occupied territory without consent are considered
illegal, regardless of their purpose, and, as a rule, must be
demolished at the expense of the occupying power. For this reason,
there is both a legal and moral basis for the demolition of all
structures that were subsequently illegally built in these
territories, where Azerbaijanis were killed and expelled during the
First Garabagh War.


It should be noted that Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries
where mosques, churches, and synagogues are located side by side,
which demonstrates the deep-rooted culture of religious tolerance
and respect for all religions by our people. For centuries, places
of worship and communities of various religions, including
Orthodox, Catholic, and Jewish, have operated freely in Azerbaijan.
Today, faithful to this tradition, Azerbaijan is restoring at its
own expense religious and cultural monuments that were destroyed
and desecrated during the occupation. Among these, it is worth
highlighting the recent restoration of the (Armenian) Gazanchi
Church in Shusha, as well as the state protection of the Armenian
Church in Baku throughout the conflict. In general, the continuous
preservation, restoration, and protection of places of worship
belonging to various confessions throughout the country have always
clearly demonstrated the respect of our state and society for
religious pluralism.







Attempts by Echmiadzin to distort this reality, which has
existed in Azerbaijan for centuries, at such a sensitive time only
serve to undermine efforts aimed at lasting peace in the
region.


The practice of resorting to political provocations left over
from the past, and such attempts aimed at preventing the
establishment of lasting peace in the region must be put to an end
once and for all," the statement reads.