News - Charektar Monastery faces threat of Azerbaijani vandalism

The Charektar Monastery in the Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) is currently under the threat of destruction due to the large-scale armed aggression carried out by Azerbaijan on September 19-20. According to monumentwatch.org, this aggression has placed several monuments in Artsakh in danger, including the Charektar Monastery, which is now under direct threat. One instance of this threat was recorded on September 27 when Azerbaijani military forces opened direct fire on the Charektar Monastery from the Martakert-Karvachar highway. The Charektar Monastery is a significant spiritual center in the Upper Tartar valley, featuring structures dating back to the 12th-14th centuries, along with preserved khachkars and inscriptions. In response to this situation, it is important to note that respect for cultural heritage is mandatory in occupied territories, and actions such as reprisals and confiscation of heritage are prohibited. The Second Protocol of 1999 to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict explicitly prohibits the destruction of cultural property in areas under enemy control.