Khanabert Fortress

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27.11.2020

27.11.2020 12:07

Xanabert qalası Kəlbəcər rayonunun Vəngli kəndində, Gəncəsər monastrının cənub tərəfində yerləşən tarix-memarlıq abidəsidir.

NEWS

28.09.2021 19:02

Information of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Mehmandarovs’ Mansion ComplexMehmandarovs’ mansion complex in Shusha belongs to the family of Karim bey Mehmandarov and is one of the historical and architectural monuments of Azerbaijan. A historical and architectural monument of the 18th century, the mansion complex was built by representatives of the Mehmandarov dynasty, who held various civil and military positions in the administrative system of the Azerbaijani khanates, including the Khanate of Karabakh (Garabagh). As a complex of buildings, the mansion includes one large and one small house and a mosque. Later, a fountain was built on the road to the mosque. Mehmandarovs’ mansion complex was first certified by the Ministry of Culture of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Azerbaijan in 1977-1978. The large house served as Shusha City Hospital during the Soviet era. On the 19th of May 1987, Shusha branch of the State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Applied Arts (now the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum) began operating in the residential complex, which once belonged to the Mehmandarovs. Due to the occupation of Shusha by the Armenian armed forces in 1992, the exhibits in the branch were evacuated and brought to Baku. As was reported, the mansion complex of the Mehmandarovs was also severely damaged and destroyed during the war. Most of the buildings of Mehmandarovs’ property were ruined. The small residential house was used by the Armenians as the History Museum of Shusha. The mosque was also appropriated by the Armenians and turned into a museum of geology. The large-scale reconstruction and renovation operations in our liberated territories, including the restoration and construction process in Shusha, are all being carried out by the Azerbaijani state as per the original architectural style of Shusha. And as part of this work, it has also been envisaged to restore Mehmandarovs’ mansion complex, where repair and construction work is now being carried out. * * * Information du Ministre de la Culture de la République d'Azerbaïdjan sur le Complexe Résidentiel Mehmandarov Le complexe résidentiel Mehmandarov de Choucha, propriété de la famille de Karim bey Mehmandarov, est l'un des monuments historiques et architecturaux d'Azerbaïdjan. Ce monument historique et architectural du XVIIIème siècle a été construit par des membres de la dynastie des Mehmandarov qui ont occupé divers postes civils et militaires dans le système administratif des khanats Azerbaïdjanais et, en particulier, celui du Karabakh. Constitué d'un ensemble de bâtiments, le complexe résidentiel comprend une grande maison, une petite maison et une mosquée. Plus tard, une fontaine a été construite sur la route menant à la mosquée. Le complexe résidentiel Mehmandarov a été certifié pour la première fois par le Ministère de la Culture de la République Socialiste d'Azerbaïdjan en 1977-1978. La grande maison a servi d'hôpital de Choucha à l'époque soviétique. Le 19 mai 1987, la succursale de Choucha du Musée d'État des Tapis Azerbaïdjanais et des Arts Appliqués (actuellement Musée National du Tapis Azerbaïdjanais) s'est installée dans l'ancien complexe résidentiel des Mehmandarovs. En raison de l'occupation de Choucha par les forces armées arméniennes en 1992, les œuvres qui y étaient exposées ont été transférées à Bakou. Selon ce qui a été rapporté, le complexe résidentiel des Mehmandarovs a été sévèrement endommagé et a subi des destructions pendant la guerre. La plupart des bâtiments ont été dégradés. La petite maison a été utilisé par les Arméniens comme Musée d'Histoire de Choucha. Ils se sont aussi approprié la mosquée et en ont fait un musée de géologie. Les opérations d'envergure de reconstruction et de rénovation dans les territoires libérés, parmi lesquelles figurent la restauration et la reconstruction de Choucha, sont toutes menées par l'état Azerbaïdjanais dans le style architectural originel de Choucha. Dans le cadre de ces travaux, il a aussi été décidé de restaurer le complexe résidentiel des Mehmandarovs, et le chantier de réparation et de reconstruction est actuellement en cours. ..

23.09.2021 12:57

Baku International Book Fair will be hosted at Baku Expo CenterFrom the 6th to the 10th of October 2021, the 7th Baku International Book Fair will be hosted at Baku Expo Center. The purpose of this fair is to promote and popularize books and reading habit, while familiarizing visitors with the print media of both Azerbaijani and foreign publishers. The fair’s aim is to support the publishing business and to connect publishers and bookstores for potential co-operation. This Book Fair aims at ensuring an exchange of experience and views on the development of the book business in the digital era. Baku International Book Fair 2021 will be dedicated to the 880th anniversary of a great Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Nizami Ganjavi, a prominent figure in world literature. The fair will feature publishing and printing houses, as well as bookstores and cultural centres; it is expected that about 200 companies from different countries will take part in the fair. Baku International Book Fair 2021 is a unique opportunity for various businesses to demonstrate and sell their printed products, as well as to negotiate and sign lucrative contracts with both local and foreign publishers and authors, as well as national publishing and printing companies. Participants and visitors will enjoy an interesting programme of additional events during five days of the fair. The organiser of the exhibition is the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, gold sponsor – “bp Azerbaijan” company, general TV partner - Azerbaijan Public TV and Radio Broadcasting Company (ITV). Organisational support is provided by Caspian Event Organisers (CEO). The organiser of the event will provide exhibitors with an exhibition space of up to 6 m2, including necessary equipment. Visitors can use the buses which leave every half an hour from Koroglu and every hour from Elmler Akademiyasi metro stations. To participate in the Baku International Book Fair exhibition and receive more detailed information, please contact the organizers at +994124041000, bookfair@ceo.az . ..

07.05.2021 20:41

The restoration of the Gazanchy Church in Shusha demonstrates the care of the Azerbaijani state for not only its own cultural heritage, but also for the Christian heritage as a wholeMaryam Gafarzada, Head of the Information and Public Relations department of the Ministry for Culture, gave an extensive interview to AZERTAG. - Azerbaijan has stated that all religious heritage and monuments in our liberated territories, regardless of their origin, will be protected and restored to a high level. The restoration of the Gazanchy Church in Shusha is also an issue that requires special attention in this regard. What can you say about this? - We are living in the most vibrant period of the history of independent Azerbaijan. Under the leadership of the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, the courageous Azerbaijani Army liberated Karabakh, one of the main pillars of our national culture, history and statehood, and returned it to our people. The cultural spirit of our native Shusha is also reverting, and its historical appearance is being restored. Shusha, the crown of Karabakh, has a special place in our history. The liberation of Shusha, the pearl of the Turkic nations, the Islamic world, the whole Caucasus, and the capital of Azerbaijani culture, is a very important event in our glorious history. Shusha is of historical and cultural significance and has an exceptional moral value for the people of Azerbaijan, which is why it is of immense importance to treat Shusha with special care and sensitivity. Therefore, President Ilham Aliyev signed an order today declaring the city of Shusha the Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan. The Presidential Order will ensure that the historical image of Shusha is restored, its former glory is rehabilitated, and the city is back to its traditional and rich cultural life, while promoting Shusha worldwide as a pearl of Azerbaijan’s centuries-old rich heritage of culture, architecture and urban development. As you know, Shusha, which was vandalized by the occupying Armenians during the occupation that lasted for almost thirty years, has been under construction and restoration for several months. The city's mosques, madrassas, imarets, caravanserais, hamams, tombs, churches, canals, museums and other important monuments are being revived. The restoration of very important examples of the cultural history of Azerbaijan is undoubtedly an example of our ownership of our own history, culture and monuments. The huge reconstruction work carried out by the Azerbaijani state in our liberated territories, including the restoration and construction process in Shusha, is carried out in accordance with the original architectural style of Shusha in order to restore the historical image of the city. As part of the work, the Gazanchy Church is being restored. Note that the Gazanchy Church is located on the outskirts of Shusha, in its upper part. It is said that they began to build the church on an ancient Zoroastrian temple in 1868, and the construction was completed in the 1880s. The church is a domed basilica with four apsides. The interior of the church is covered with carved local stones, without any special architectural ornaments. The doors and windows of the church are made in a simple way. The church, which was registered (inventory No. 358) by Resolution No. 132 dated the 2nd of August 2001of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was first included in the list of monuments by Resolution No. 145 dated the 27th of April 1988 of the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan SSR. In 1987, the passport of the monument was developed. Like all other historical and cultural monuments of Azerbaijan, the Gazanchy Church will be restored on the basis of historical documents and archival materials, in accordance with its original artistic and aesthetic appearance; it is a scientific-practical-research activity and includes a comprehensive analysis of the monument, and the study of architectural and historical features. The restoration project will allow the monument to be returned to its original appearance, as it was in the 19th century. In addition, the said project will be discussed and approved by a Scientific Council consisting of experienced architects and restorers. Moreover, the opinion of foreign experts with extensive experience in the relevant field, who are aware of the international preservation and restoration standards approved by UNESCO, is being obtained with regard to the restoration project. It is also planned to conduct in-situ inspections with foreign experts and periodically monitor the progress of the restoration work during the restoration process. This testifies that we remain faithful to and take care of our historical monuments. Azerbaijani monuments damaged by Armenian vandalism and forgery are being revived by reverting them to their historical appearance and mission. Although the process of the restoration of monuments in Karabakh and Shusha made our friends happy, it deeply shook our enemies. Unable to digest the restoration of the historic Gazanchy Church in Shusha, the aggressive terrorist Armenia, slanders us and tries to make absurd allegations. However, all this is in vain, and as long as our monuments are restored and our historical and cultural heritage is returned to the liberated territories as part of the Great Return, the Azerbaijani state policy, aimed at peace, development and progress, will triumph. - Despite the abominable policy of the enemy, historical justice has been restored. After thirty years of barbarism in Karabakh, the life, creativity and culture are reverting back to this ancient land of Azerbaijan. - You are absolutely right. The cultural spirit of our native Karabakh is returning. Every inch of land, the monuments and geniuses of Karabakh are bright pages and an integral part of our ancient, rich culture. Now our culture, like our lands that had been subjected to enemy terror for years, is beginning to revive. The children of Azerbaijan will grow up victorious and proud. This, of course, will contribute to the future development of Azerbaijani culture and art. On the basis of the relevant orders and instructions of President Ilham Aliyev, important and interesting projects have been launched in Shusha, our cradle of culture and music. The flower Khary-Bulbul (Ophrys Caucasica), grown only in Shusha, that we have been longing for these many years and that the people of Shusha have dried and preserved as the most valuable memory, has now come to life; this will be proved once again by the Khary-Bulbul Festival to be held in Shusha. Karabakh carpets, which adorn the world's museums and are historically sought after by the richest merchants and collectors, will return to the land of their loops. Magical patterns and ornaments made by talented carpet weavers of Karabakh will once again decorate every corner of the globe. The exiled Karabakh horses will again make their way to their native Jydyr Plain. The followers of Molla Panah Vagif's work, who created unique pearls of poetry and gave impetus to new directions in our literature, will no longer miss their native land in their poems; instead, they will glorify the beauty of Karabakh, the mountains of Shusha, every stone and rock destroyed by our hated enemy. - The “Great Return” short feature, documentary and animated film projects competition held by the Ministry of Culture is already over. Can you give more details in this regard? - As you know, on the 22nd of January this year, the Ministry of Culture announced the “Great Return” short feature, documentary and animated film projects competition. The main purpose of the competition was to support creative people working in the field of national cinematography, to stimulate the activities of state studios and independent production centres working in this area, to promote national-spiritual and universal values through films, to further enhance the experience of film professionals, as well as to contribute to the Great Victory in the Patriotic War through cinema. The theme of the competition covered the glorious victory of our people in the 2020 Patriotic War, the heroic struggle of Azerbaijani soldiers, our mighty army, for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, the return of our compatriots longing for their native places to their ancestral lands, as well as the activities of our people united like an iron fist in the home front. Note that the competition aroused great interest. The 49 projects that met the initial admission requirements were evaluated by a jury in the second - Artistic Selection stage. At this stage, 26 projects that differed from the artistic and cinematographic point of view were selected by the jury of the competition and won the right to participate in the last stage - Pitching. 12 of them were feature films, 8 documentaries and 6 animated film projects. The Pitching stage was held on the 27th of April at the Azerbaijan State Film Fund and was broadcast live on the Fund`s YouTube channel. The jury evaluated all the projects taking into account the artistic and cinematic qualities. 11 projects (5 feature, 4 documentary, and 2 animated film projects) were selected as winners in the process, which took place through the open voting of the jury. The names of these projects were announced on the official website of the Ministry of Culture on the 30th of April. The winning projects will be produced by the company that submitted them on the basis of the order and financial support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. - In accordance with the presidential decree “On the organization of temporary special management in the liberated territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan”, representatives of the Ministry of Culture have launched a monitoring process to ensure an initial inventory taking and protection of historical and cultural sites in the liberated territories. How is the monitoring process going and what are the results? - So far, 313 state-registered historical and cultural monuments have been monitored as part of the aforementioned process. Moreover, 113 unregistered historical, architectural and archaeological objects located in those areas were discovered (newly discovered monuments). Most of the historical and cultural monuments and objects of historical, architectural and archaeological significance were completely destroyed by the occupiers; it was revealed that these monuments were demolished and vandalized. In addition, 846 cultural institutions, including 451 libraries, 342 centres of culture and clubs, 20 museums, 25 children's music schools, 1 cinema, 2 theatres, 2 galleries, and 3 movie clubs were monitored. Although 14 of these enterprises were found during the initial monitoring, they are not in the ministry's network. Almost all enterprises are in a state of complete destruction. The monitoring was conducted in Shusha, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Khojavend, Gubadly, Aghdam and Kalbajar regions. It turns out that most of the historical and cultural monuments and objects of historical, architectural and archaeological significance were interfered with by the hateful invaders. These objects were defaced in 'senseless' acts of vandalism. Many of these objects were completely destroyed; there are only some remains left. The monitoring continues, and once this process is completed, we will bring the full picture of the damage done to our culture during the Armenian occupation to the attention of both the public and the international community. ..

18.02.2021 11:21

STATEMENT OF THE MINISTRY FOR CULTURE OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJANThe website Armenpress.am (https://armenpress.am/rus/news/1043451.html) has recently announced that an exhibition of carpets, which were illegally removed from the Shusha Carpet Museum on the 1st of November 2020, will be held at the Alexander Tamanyan National Museum-Institute of Architecture on the 20th of February 2021. The carpets to be showcased at the exhibition under the so-called name “Arsakh” are glaring examples of our national heritage of Karabakh, which is an integral part of our country. This exhibition is yet another proof of looting and misappropriation by Armenians. Therefore, based on UNESCO’s 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and Article 19 of its Second Protocol, as well as Article 11 of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, Armenia's wrongful actions such as the illicit export, transportation and import of our cultural heritage from the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan is a blatant violation of international law, and the entire responsibility for this falls on the Government of Armenia. The carpet - while being one of the rare works of art - is an important source of information both about the history of its birthplace and the people living in that area who created it. One of the main targets of our neighbours in the Armenianisation of our carpets is to falsify the history of Karabakh. The composition, patterns and colour scheme of the carpets woven here for centuries prove once again that Karabakh is one of the ancient cultural centres of Azerbaijan. The art of carpet weaving is one of the rare examples of the Azerbaijani people's ancient legacy to our humanity. It is not coincidence that UNESCO recognised the traditional art of weaving of Azerbaijani carpet as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2010. This tradition is so deeply rooted in our people that it is widespread and has developed in every region of Azerbaijan. Historically, there were 8 main carpet-weaving schools in Azerbaijan, and each of them differed from each other in its patterns and colours. The reason for the spread of carpet weaving traditions among the Armenians of Karabakh is that they adopted it from the local community of Azerbaijanis. Armenians have never engaged in carpet weaving, but in carpet trading, and in the process of trading, they have been trying to spread misleading information to the world by presenting Azerbaijani carpets as Armenian carpets. Iakob (Yakov) Simonovich Zedginidze (Zedgenidze), who conducted research in Karabakh in the 19th century, wrote that the entire Muslim population here was engaged in carpet weaving and that the carpets woven in Karabakh rank first in the entire Caucasus both in quantity and quality, while Armenians never engaged in this art; on the contrary, they were calling it an “undesirable practice”. Therefore, the exhibition of the carpets that were illegally removed from the Shusha Carpet Museum at the Alexander Tamanyan National Museum-Institute of Architecture under the auspices of the Armenian Government is a clear example of Armenia's disrespect for international conventions to which it is a party with certain obligations, and UNESCO shall not turn a blind eye to this misbehaviour. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan will carry out the necessary legal procedures with UNESCO in this regard. ..

07.12.2020 13:18

Haji Alakbar MosqueHaji Alakbar Mosque in Fuzuli city is one of the first works of Karbalayi Safikhan Garabaghi. A stone inscription bearing the words “This is the Architect Karbalayi Safikhan Garabaghi’s work” was found at the entrance door. Date of construction of the Mosque – the year 1307 Hegira calendar was also noted on inscription. This date corresponds to 1889-1890 AD. During the occupation of the Fuzuli city by the Armenian Armed Forces in 1993, Haji Alakbar Mosque was rendered useless. ..

02.12.2020 11:10

Russian cultural figures who appealed to UNESCO receive a letterReportedly, a group of cultural figures from the Russian Federation have appealed to UNESCO to help protect the Christian heritage in Karabakh and inscribe this heritage in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Referring only to the Christian monuments, this letter disregards the fact that numerous Islamic cultural heritage sites have been destroyed during the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and its neighbouring areas by Armenia, as well as the fact that the Azerbaijani Government protects all historical, cultural and religious heritage sites located in its territory without any discrimination, and takes this issue very seriously. This letter is addressed directly to UNESCO, which proves that it is biased and was deliberately prepared as part of a smear campaign against our country. The First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Acting Minister Anar Karimov, sent a letter to the cultural figures who signed the afore-mentioned appeal. The letter first informs them about the destruction of our cultural heritage sites (in most cases, both Muslim and Christian heritage sites) located in the territories of Azerbaijan, which were previously occupied by Armenia for many years. The letter further refers to the facts proving that our state protects both religious (Muslim, Christian, Jewish) and cultural heritage sites located in the various cities of Azerbaijan. In addition, the letter reproaches the Russian cultural figures for addressing their concerns directly to UNESCO, not the Azerbaijani Government, and advises them not to fall victim to Armenian propaganda. At the end of his letter, Acting Minister Anar Karimov invited the cultural figures who signed the afore-mentioned appeal to visit the heritage sites in the liberated lands of Azerbaijan, which have been destroyed and looted for nearly 30 years, and to see how our country takes care of the cultural heritage. It is noteworthy that the letter to UNESCO was not welcomed unequivocally by a number of renowned people and cultural figures who widely criticised it. ..

01.12.2020 12:21

Mamayi MosqueThe architect of the eponymous mosque built in the Mamayi neighborhood of Shusha in the 19th century, was Karbala Shafi Khan Karabakh. There was a “guldeste” (tent-shaped booth for muezzin) on the roof of Mamayi mosque which resembled the other quadrangular house roofs of the residential buildings in Shusha. Mamayi mosque functioned as a poetry house during years of soviet power. The mosque is two-storied ..

26.11.2020 12:51

Palace of Panahali KhanThe monument, known as the “Palace of Panahali Khan“, is located near the city of Agdam and is a historical and architectural monument of the 18th century, from which today only ruins remain. ..

25.11.2020 12:38

Sharifan TombThe historical monument is located in Sharifan village of Zangilan district, on the right bank of the Hakari river. Only the remains of the lower part of the ancient tomb have survived. The upper part of the tomb was destroyed. The Sharifan tomb is considered to be a monument built at the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries. ..

24.11.2020 12:40

Askeran Fortress The territory of Azerbaijan is rich in fortifications and fortresses built for defense purposes. One of them is the Askeran fortress. The Askeran fortress, built in the 18th century by order of the Karabakh khan Panah Ali khan, is one of the brightest examples of Azerbaijani architecture. The construction of the fortress was associated with the rise of the Karabakh Khanate. The Askeran fortress is located about 24 km from Shusha, 5 km from Khojaly and 12 km south of Aghdam, on the right and left banks of the Qarqar river. After the occupation of Khojaly by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia in 1992, the fortress has suffered distruction. A few years ago, Armenia began illegal “restoration“ work in the fortress of Askeran. According to the images circulated on the internet, the “restoration“ work is designed to completely change the appearance of the fortress. The architectural style of the historic building has changed, and deep pits have formed in the construction area. Armenia has seriously damaged the appearance of the historical monument in order to misappropriate the Askeran fortress. ..

23.11.2020 15:44

The Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan calls on prominent cultural figures of France for honesty and impartialityA group of renowned cultural figures from France (directors, writers, performers, musicians, journalists, singers) have signed an appeal in support of Armenian separatism in Garabagh, based on lies and slander; this was reported in the French newspaper Le Figaro. The appeal demonstrates solidarity with the Armenians, a concern for their fate in Garabagh, the reoccurrence of the so-called “1915 genocide”, support for Armenian separatism, and, in general, Azerbaijan’s mythical “insidious plans”. The Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan states that for about thirty years Armenia had illegally occupied internationally recognised territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Nagorno-Karabakh (Daghlyg Garabagh) region and seven neighbouring towns, refusing to implement UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884. During the many years of occupation, as a result of the aggressive policy of Armenia, immovable historical and cultural monuments in these areas that belong to the Azerbaijani people have been destroyed, misappropriated and vandalised by not being used in accordance with their historical and cultural purposes. Along with houses, educational and industrial facilities in the occupied territories, hundreds of cultural institutions, including 927 libraries with a stock of 4.6 million books, 808 palaces of culture, clubs and cultural centres, 85 music and art schools, 22 museums and museum branches with more than 100 000 exhibits, 4 art galleries, 4 theatres, 2 concert halls, 8 culture and recreation parks, and more than 2 000 historical and cultural monuments have been victims of this vandalism. Such barbaric treatment of cultural heritage, including unique monuments of special importance, should be seen as a threat to world heritage. It is unfortunate that the participation of influential cultural figures in this appeal, which was presented to the world community without relying on relevant evidence and facts, including any scientific research, has become a tool of Armenian propaganda; this unprofessional approach casts a shadow over the image and impartiality of these individuals. We remind that despite being a member state of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1970 Paris Convention on the Prohibition and Prevention of the Illicit Import, Export and Illegal Transfer of Cultural Property (UNESCO), there are indisputable facts and evidences about how Armenia has destroyed, falsified and looted Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage in the Azerbaijani territories that were once under occupation. The Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan invites renowned cultural and scientific figures from France to our liberated territories to witness the cultural genocide against Azerbaijan and to see in real life the current state of Azerbaijan’s destroyed and vandalised heritage. ..

23.11.2020 14:50

Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s House-Museum in ShushaIn 1959, a house-museum of the great Azerbaijani composer, founder of our national professional music, world-famous Uzeyir Hajibeyli was founded in the house where he spent his childhood in Shusha. Items from the composer's early years, manuscripts of his works, numerous documents, and photographs depicting his life and creativity were displayed in the museum's exposition. Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s anniversaries and jubilees had been constantly commemorated in the museum at national level. In 1985, UNESCO solemnly marked the 100th anniversary of Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s birth. The guests invited from different countries of the world visited Uzeyir Hajibeyli’s House-Museum in Shusha, where jubilee was celebrated. After occupation of Shusha by Armenia the museum discontinued its function. The museum's exhibits are preserved in the funds of Uzeyir Hajibeyli's house-museum in Baku. One of the most valuable examples brought to Baku is a handful of Shusha soil taken from the bottom of Uzeyir Bey's favorite pear tree in the museum yard. ..

23.11.2020 10:11

Anar Karimov gave an interview to AZERTAC“Under the Azerbaijani President’s relevant decree, temporary administrative commandant's offices were established in the liberated lands, which also include the Ministry of Culture. This once again shows that our President attaches great importance to culture. As the Ministry of Culture, we are proud to be at the forefront, and we consider this issue as a sacred mission. I would like to note that the commandant's offices operating in five districts have representatives of the Ministry of Culture assigned to each district. The delegates have already started their work,” said First Deputy Minister, Acting Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan Anar Karimov in his interview with AZERTAC. “Their mission is to study the condition and ensure preservation of cultural institutions and historical monuments in the liberated lands. The preliminary results of the monitoring identified that there were 151 cultural institutions, including 72 libraries, 62 culture houses and clubs, 8 museums, 9 children's music schools in these districts. With heartache I must say that all these enterprises are in a state of disrepair. During the monitoring, 67 historical monuments were found, 34 of which were completely destroyed by the occupiers. The monuments of national importance are among them. They include Khudafarin bridges, the Red Albanian temple in Khojavand district, another Albanian temple in Hadrut, the Maiden's Tower in Zangilan and the Eight-cornered tomb in Mammadbayli village, the Caravanserai in Garghabazar village of Fuzuli, and our 18th century mosques in some districts. All the aforementioned monuments have either been destroyed or turned into stables for pets. This is not only against international law, but also against human values and Islam. We strongly condemn all this. These atrocities contradict the conventions adopted by UNESCO in 1954 and 1970. In general, Armenian vandals were engaged in the removal of traces of the millennial existence of Azerbaijanis in these areas. It should be called a policy of cultural terror and cleansing. Because 30 years ago, the Armenians first carried out the ethnic cleansing and then tried to end the process with cultural cleansing. The goal here, of course, was to completely erase everything belonging to Azerbaijanis from those territories. Traces of Armenian misappropriation, and falsification of historical facts were also found in the above-mentioned territories. This is an activity against the Albanian temples. Many of our temples and churches in Nagorno-Karabakh, which are the heritage of Azerbaijan and belong to the Caucasian Albania, have been appropriated by Armenians. They did this to strengthen their claims to those territories. Of course, this could not go on like that. We will invite international experts and register the facts in the falsified historical monuments, and declare these crimes to the whole world,“ Anar Karimov said. ..

20.11.2020 11:57

Gargabazar MosqueThe mosque is located in Garghabazar village of Fuzuli district. Popularly known as Shah Abbas Mosque among the people, this mosque was described in scientific literature as Haji Qiyaseddin Mosque. Because the door of the mosque bears an inscription as “This mosque was constructed by Haji Qiyaseddin, the kind creature of Great Allah, in Hegira 1095”. This date corresponds to AD 1683-1684. The mosque is built on a rocky hill in the center of the village. The caravanserai, built in the same period, is located to the south of the hill. The architectural analysis of the construction of the caravanserai and the mosque suggests that both monuments were built by the same architect. After the occupation of Fuzuli district by the Armenian armed forces in 1993, the mosque was destroyed. ..

19.11.2020 14:31

The Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan objects to biased position of the Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe statement made on November 17, 2020 by The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Armenian cultural heritage sites reflects the biased and one-sided position of a leading cultural institution that is not fully informed about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its devastating consequences. The Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan reminds the MET that for nearly three decades, Armenia illegally kept occupied around 20% of internationally recognized territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan including Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts in violation of UN Security Council Resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884. Despite the fact that the Republic of Armenia is a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, there are irrefutable facts and evidences how Armenia destroyed, changed the character or looted Azerbaijan’s cultural heritage in the occupied territories. Hundreds of historical and cultural monuments, institutions, including 927 libraries with a book fund of 4.6 million, 808 recreational venues, 85 musical and art schools, 22 museums with the collection of more than 100.000 exhibits, 4 art galleries , 4 theaters, 2 concert places, 8 cultural parks became a victim of this vandalism. All mosques and other Islamic heritage in the occupied territories have been almost destroyed and transformed to pigpen. These crimes against humanity are become available in the various internet sites and forums. It is regretful that such prestigious institution as The Metropolitan Museum of Art without proper scientific research and study falls into the trap and became instrumentalized in the hands of Armenian propaganda. This unprofessional approach casts a shadow to the image and impartiality of the Institution. We invite The Metropolitan Museum of Art to the liberated territories for the technical mission to monitor the state of Azerbaijani heritage and to witness the cultural genocide committed against Azerbaijan. ..

19.11.2020 13:24

Varazgun TempleVarazgun Temple is an ancient Albanian monument located in Lachin district. Around the temple are the ruins of a village called Varazkhan. It is believed that the first name of the temple was Varazkhan or Varazgun. The monument was built in the II-V centuries during the Caucasian Albania period and ruins has remained until today. Remains of an ancient Albanian cemetery dating back to the 7th century, as well as coins belonging to the 16th century Safavid state had been found in the area of the temple built in the highland. ..

18.11.2020 12:17

Khubyarli Tombs“Round“ tomb of the XV century,Octagonal mausoleum of the XVI century which has a special place in the history of the Middle Ages due to its architectural style in Khubyarli village of Jabrayil region, was completely restored by a special repair brigade. However, these historical monuments had beed destroyed by the Armenian vandals during the occupation of Jabrayil region in 1993. ..

17.11.2020 13:05

Bashikesik DomeThe dome built in the 13th-14th centuries located in Daghtumas village of Jabrayil region was named “Bashikesik dome” (Headless dome) due to its open ceiling. Despite the restoration of the historical monument before the occupation, in 1993 several parts of the walls of the dome were destroyed by the Armenian armed forces. ..

16.11.2020 13:24

Mirali MausoleumMirali Mausoleum is a tower-shaped mausoleum rising on a hill in Ashagi Veysalli village of Fizuli region. Judging by the construction techniques, it is considered that this monument was built in the XIV century during the Ilkhanid period. ..

13.11.2020 13:03

Shikhlar TombShikhlar Tomb (Circular Tomb) is located near Shikhlar village of Jabrayil district. The upper part of the tomb was destroyed during Armenian occupation in 1993. ..

12.11.2020 17:19

We will always show due diligence and care towards the protection of the Christian religious heritage in the territory of the Republic of AzerbaijanAs a multicultural and multi-religious country, Azerbaijan has always been home for representatives of all nations and religions, who have co-existed and worked together peacefully for centuries; the state shows due care towards protecting, restoring and rebuilding their cultural heritage. The large Christian community in our country is an integral and active part of our society, and their monuments and places of worship, churches are fully protected by the Azerbaijani state and are regularly restored. It is no coincidence that during his visit to Azerbaijan in October 2016, Pope Francis praised Azerbaijan as a model country in the world for religious tolerance. The restoration and reconstruction of our historical and religious monuments, including churches and synagogues, is an integral part of the policy pursued by the Azerbaijani state in this area. Over the last 20 years, the Russian Orthodox Church (The Church of the Jen-Mironosits Cathedral), The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baku or Baku Church of the Saviour, and the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Ganja have been renovated by the state, and the Orthodox Religious and Cultural Centre of the Baku and Azerbaijan Eparchy has been built. Moreover, the repair of the Chotari Albanian-Udi Church in Gabala and the Orthodox Church in Baku, and the construction of the Church of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception in Baku were carried out as part of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation’s project “Azerbaijan – the Land of tolerance”. In 2020, within the framework of this project, the Albanian Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Nij settlement of Gabala was thoroughly restored by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The Armenian Church in the centre of Baku was restored by the Azerbaijani state and given to the free use of the people. Azerbaijan has contributed to the protection of the Christian heritage not only within the country but also worldwide; the restoration of the St. Sebastian catacombs at the initiative of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, including the restoration of the catacombs of Saints Marcellino and Pietro in Vatican, Rome, which was carried out as part of a bilateral agreement between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Holy See (Vatican) on the restoration of Roman catacombs, as well as the erection of a monument to Prince Vladimir in the square in front of the St. Vladimir’s Church by the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which were dedicated to the 1025th anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Russia and the 455th anniversary of the founding of Astrakhan, are among these projects. In addition, assistance was provided in the restoration of seven churches of the 10th-12th centuries in the settlements of Saint-Hilaire, Fresnaye-au-Sauvage, Saint-Hilaire-la-Gérard, Tanville, Courgeoût, Réveillon and Mâle in the Orne department of France. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan states that along with mosques and other Islamic monuments in the liberated territories, the Christian heritage, irrespective of its origin will also be preserved, restored and put into operation at the highest level. ..

12.11.2020 14:04

Beshikdag Church The church is located on Beshikdag Mountain in Aghdam district. The church, built in the style of Caucasian Albanian architecture, dates back to the 4th-7th centuries. ..

06.11.2020 14:16

Damirovlu Pir TempleThe monument belonging to the material and cultural heritage of Caucasian Albania, is located in Karykyshlak village of Lachin district and belongs to XI century. Since Lachin district has been occupied by Armenia in1992, the current condition of the monument is unknown. ..

05.11.2020 14:31

Khudavang Monastery ComplexThe complex of Khudavang or Dedeveng complex located in the Vang village of Kalbajar region, on the Terterchay river’s left bank, is one of the largest and most beautiful examples of Azerbaijan’s Christian architecture. Many construction inscriptions have survived in the Khudavang Complex. A number of names indicated therein such as Arzu, Tursun, Seyti, Hasan, Avag, Shams, Altun, Aghbuh, Garagoz, etc. should be considered of exact providing the builders’ Turkic identity. After the occupation of the Kalbajar district by the Armenian armed forces in 1993, Khudaveng Monastery Complex was presented to the world as an Armenian monument. ..

04.11.2020 13:14

Lekh CastleLekh Castle is located in the territory of Qanlikend village of Kalbajar district, which was occupied by Armenia in 1993. The castle, built on a high mountain peak, was built in XIII-XIV centuries for defensive purposes. ..

03.11.2020 12:47

Red MonasteryThe historical monument located in Gozlu village of Kalbajar district was built in 1224. The monumentcomplex, which belongs to Albanian Christian architecture, consists of a church, narthex, cell and other buildings. This historical monument has been under Armenian occupation since 1993 and is on the verge of destruction. ..

02.11.2020 12:41

Khojaly TombOne of the monuments erected in the 14th century is Khojaly tomb built of the hewn white stones in Khojaly mound. As the stone coating of the Khojaly tomb peeled off, the monument had an unusual appearance. ..

30.10.2020 12:47

Lalazar Bridge Lalazar Bridge was built in 1867 on the river Bargushad passing through Aliguluushagi village of Gubadli district.

29.10.2020 12:58

Shalva CellShalva Cell is one of the Albanian cell type monuments belonging to the 15th century in Shalva village of Lachin district. Lachin district was occupied by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia on May 18, 1992. There is no exact information about the fate of the historical monument, since it is currently under Armenian occupation. ..

28.10.2020 12:40

Gutlu Musa Masoleum Gutlu Musa Masoleum is located in Khachindarbatli village of Aghdam district. The inscription on the entrance door of the Khachindarbatli monument shows that it was built in 1314 by the master Shahbenzar on the tomb of Musa oglu Kutlu. The current condition of the monument is unknown due to the occupation of the Aghdam region by Armenia in 1993. ..

27.10.2020 12:49

Agoghlan Temple Agoghlan Temple is an Albanian monastery belonging to V-VI centuries. After the occupation of Lachin district by Armenia in 1992, the architectural structure and interior of the monument were changed and renamed “Tsitsernavank”. ..

26.10.2020 12:58

Shahbulag Fortress Shahbulag Fortress (castle) was built near the city of Aghdam in 1750-1752 at the request of the Karabakh khan Panah-Ali Khan. After the occupation of the Aghdam district by the Armenian armed forces, Shahbulag Fortress became the most Armenianized one of ourmonuments. Recently, the fortress was restored and is used as a church. ..

23.10.2020 15:58

Statement from the Ministry Of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the insult of the mosque in Zangilan by armeniansThe historical territory of Azerbaijan - the region of Nagorno Karabakh, including its immediate areas, which has been under the seizure of Armenian armed forces for almost 30 years, is now being progressively freed by the victorious army of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Thanks to the courage demonstrated by the service personnel of our Armed Forces, the regional centres of Jabrail, Fizuli and Zangilan, as well as a number of the populated areas of these regions, and that of the Khojavend and Tartar regions have been freed from the occupation. Historical and cultural monuments located in our freed territories have also been saved from the enemy. However, we regret to note that during the years of the occupation, the aggressive policy of Armenia has either destroyed or misappropriated the immovable historical and cultural monuments belonging to the Azerbaijani people, while vandalising these historical sites by use that contradicts their historical and cultural purpose. The most common examples of immovable cultural heritage damaged by the Armenian armed forces are the Islamic monuments such as mosques, tombs and other places of worship. Armenians have demonstrated their hatred of Azerbaijanis by keeping animals inside mosques. Such barbaric treatment of the cultural heritage in the occupied territories, including unique monuments of special importance, is a threat to world heritage. As expected, many monuments in the freed areas are in a deplorable condition. The state-registered immovable historical and cultural monument – the mosque in Zangilan was used to keep pigs; this is another clear example of Armenian vandalism, and this fact is strongly condemned not only by Azerbaijan, but should also be criticised by international organisations and the progressive world community as a barbaric attitude to the world’s cultural heritage. This reflects the attitude of the Republic of Armenia to other religions and shows its true face. Keeping animals in the mosque, which is a place of worship for Muslims, along with the negative attitude of the Republic of Armenia to human values, is disrespectful to the religious values of our people and the entire Muslim world, and it should have a legal evaluation at the international level. We call on the states and peoples of the civilised world to condemn such heinous acts of the Republic of Armenia against human values. We also refer to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, according to which the occupying power must not allow the destruction, looting and misappropriation of and must refrain from hostile actions against cultural property. ..

23.10.2020 11:58

Memer Village MosqueMemer Village Mosque belonging to Gubadli region was built in XVIII century. After the occupation of Gubadli region by the Armenian armed forces in 1993, the mosque was completely destroyed. ..

22.10.2020 12:04

Gurjulu MausoleuGurjulu Mausoleu is a historical and architectural monument of the XVIII century located in the territory of Gurjulu village of Gubadli region. The current condition of the tomb is unknown due to the occupation of the region by Armenian armed forces in 1993. ..

21.10.2020 12:57

Kocharli MosqueKocharli Mosque is an architectural monument of the XIX century located in Shusha city. The historical mosque belonging to the palace complex of Bahman Mirza was one of the seventeen mosques operating in Shusha in the late 19th century. The mosque was burned and destroyed by vandals after the occupation of Shusha by the Armenian armed forces in May, 1992. ..

20.10.2020 13:13

Haji Badal BridgeThe archless bridge located in Demirchiler village of Gubadli region was built by Haji Badal on the Aga River in the XIX century The current condition of this historical monument, which connects 15 villages with the district center, is unknown due to the occupation of Gubadli by the Armenian armed forces. ..

19.10.2020 12:55

Hamza Soltan PalacePalace of Hamza Soltan is located in Husulu village of Lachin region. Oriental architectural traditions were widely used in the construction of the palace, which was supposed to be built in 1761. After the occupation of Lachin region by the Armenian armed forces, the name of the village was changed, and the Hamza Sultan Palace had been repaired and put into use as a guest house. ..

16.10.2020 15:15

Ganjasar Monastery ComplexThe main buildings of the Ganjasar monastery complex, known in scientific literature as the Khaznadagh temple, were built in the 13th century. After the occupation of the Kalbajar district by the Armenian armed forces in 1993, the Ganjasar monastery was presented to the world as the “Gandzasar” Armenian monastery complex. ..

15.10.2020 15:44

Saatli MosqueThe historic mosque, located in the Saatli neighborhood of Shusha, was built by architect Karbalai Safikhan Garabaghi in 1883. Adjacent madrassas and mosque buildings where the great Azerbaijani poet Molla Panah Vagif taught were located on the site of the mosque. After occupation of Shusha by Armenia in 1992, the mosque was turned into a ruin, its rich interiors were completely destroyed, and its minaret was partially destroyed. ..

14.10.2020 15:10

Gargabazar Caravanserai Although it is named after the village where the Caravanserai was built in the center of Gargabazar village of Fuzuli region in 1681, this historical monument is sometimes called Shah Abbas caravanserai. A relic of the 17th century - Gargabazar Caravanserai was located on an ancient caravan route that was very important for the silk trade. The caravanserai is considered one of the immovable historical monuments of the Republic of Azerbaijan. After the occupation of Gargabazar village by the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia, the armenians turned this historical and architectural monument into a cattle barn. ..

13.10.2020 16:36

Mammadbeyli tomb The tomb, located in Mammadbeyli village of Zangilan district and consisting of an octagonal prism, was built in 1305 in honor of Muhammad al-Haj's son Yahya. The architect and builder of the tomb is Ali Majdaddin, who created monuments on the Great Silk Road during the 14th century. The current state of the tomb after the occupation of Zangilan district by Armenia is unknown. ..