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Azerbaijan registers 25 more historical monuments in liberated territories

02 December 2025 15:26 (UTC +04:00)

"In accordance with Decree No. 1170 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated October 29, 2020, the inventory work carried out by the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture in the liberated territories continues. As a result of the work conducted, the locations of an additional 25 historical and cultural monuments — including 16 archaeological and 9 architectural monuments — have been identified and registered in the districts of Aghdam, Fuzuli, Aghdara, and Khojaly," State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture told APA.

It was noted that during the inventory process, field research work was carried out, electronic maps of the monuments were prepared, photo documentation and drone footage were taken, archival documents were examined, and other sources were reviewed.

Up to now, inventory work on 575 historical and cultural monuments located in the liberated territories has been completed. At the same time, 402 objects of historical, architectural, and archaeological significance have been inventoried and registered as newly discovered monuments. By Decision No. 193 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 3, 2025, 44 of these newly discovered monuments were included in the list of immovable historical and cultural monuments. Thus, the number of historical monuments registered by the state in Karabakh and East Zangezur has reached 749.

Inventory work could not be carried out on 130 of the 749 historical monuments under state protection. The majority of the non-inventoried monuments are located in dangerous, mine-contaminated areas, outside residential settlements, in high mountainous and forested locations.

The nearly 30-year occupation led to the destruction of historical monuments and acts of vandalism. In total, 68 monuments in the liberated territories were completely destroyed, 114 monuments were subjected to large-scale and severe destruction, and the others suffered varying degrees of damage.

The amount of material damage to 434 monuments has been calculated by the State Service. The total damage amounts to 700 million 154 thousand manats