TODAY.AZ / Society

Government slams Mikhail Piotrovski for grave destruction claim

24 March 2006 [10:00] - TODAY.AZ
Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism has condemned a Russian culture worker’s recent statement concerning the alleged destruction of ancient graves in Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan.

Mikhail Piotrovski of Armenian descent, who heads the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world and is a correspondent member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, went as far as describing the alleged destruction of Armenian tombstone crosses in Julfa, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as a crime.

In a statement, the Ministry said the utterances by Piotrovski and distortion of historic facts showed that he is poorly informed on the matter. In 1960s, after an appeal by the Catalicos [clerical leader] to then Soviet leadership, the tombstones in Nagorno Karabakh and Julfa cemeteries were transferred to Armenia, AssA-Irada informs.

Moreover, other ancient tombstones dating back to the period of Caucasus Albania were stolen from Azerbaijan's Districts of Gazakh, Tovuz, Gadabay, Gubadli and Lachin and also moved to Armenia. The views of Armenian historians, who politicized the issue and distorted the facts were reflected in the mentioned statements by the Russian cultural figure, the Ministry indicated.

The statement said further that Armenian barbarians, ignoring the demands of UNESCO and other international organizations, continue to pursue their policy of aggression. It warned that Piotrovski's views do not reflect the attitude of influential and unbiased Russian historians and scholars.

Piotrovski's statement and his inclination to mix science with politics comes as no surprise due to his origin. His mother is of Armenian descent, while his father is an academician of the Armenian Academy of Sciences, archaeologist and Orientalist.

/AzerNEWS/

URL: http://www.today.az/news/society/24393.html

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