Seventeen-year-old "antiquity": how samostroy is passed off as cultural heritage

In Khankendi, the Surb Hakob Church, which some sources describe as an architectural monument associated with the Armenian community, was dismantled in 2007.

In Armenia and among parts of the diaspora, this event has been met with emotional reactions and regret, viewing the demolition as a loss of cultural heritage.

On the other hand, the Azerbaijani position is that the structure was built during a period when the territory was not fully under Baku’s control, and that its legal status was not properly formalized under the applicable national legislation.

The situation surrounding the site reflects the broader and complex disputes over heritage, property rights, and historical interpretation in the Karabakh region.

Overall, the case once again highlights the sensitivity of cultural heritage issues in the region and the importance of dialogue and a legal framework in addressing such matters.