The Caucasus Muslims Board (CMB) has issued a strong rebuttal to the Armenian Apostolic Church's recent statement regarding the demolition of two illegal structures in Khankendi. Describing the April 23 statement by the Echmiadzin church as 'hostile and disinformation,' the CMB warned against attempts to politicize the issue during a fragile normalization process.
According to the CMB's statement, Echmiadzin, which remained silent for decades while Azerbaijani historical, religious, and cultural monuments were destroyed during occupation, is now making baseless accusations. The demolished buildings were illegally constructed during the occupation period. After restoring full sovereignty in 2023, Azerbaijan had preserved these structures, but returning internally displaced persons repeatedly petitioned authorities and courts for their removal.
Under international humanitarian law, structures built by an occupying power without consent are illegal and must be demolished at the occupier's expense. The CMB emphasized that both legal and moral grounds justify the removal of all illegally built structures in areas where Azerbaijanis were killed and expelled during the First Karabakh War.
Highlighting Azerbaijan's tradition of religious tolerance, the CMB noted that the country is unique in having mosques, churches, and synagogues coexisting side by side. The state continues to restore religious and cultural monuments damaged during occupation, including the recently restored Ghazanchetsots Church in Shusha and the state-protected Armenian church in Baku.
The CMB called for an end to such political provocations, stressing that efforts to undermine lasting peace in the region must cease immediately.
