Baku: 'Armenians' cultural heritage policy has historically been built on falsification and destructive activity,' Hikmat Babaoglu, a member of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament), told APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the MP highlighted that throughout history, there have been nations known for creating culture, while others have been recognized for destroying it. Babaoglu remarked that since their resettlement to the Caucasus, Armenians have systematically pursued a policy aimed at dismantling the material and cultural heritage created by Azerbaijani people. This destructive behavior, he argued, stems from a lack of cultural creation capabilities, which breeds jealousy and eventually leads to destructive barbarism.

Babaoglu detailed that Armenians have methodically obliterated cultural heritage in Western Azerbaijan, including demolishing cities and historical monuments like the Sardarabad fortress, and desecrating mosques. He accused Armenians of committing acts of vandalism against ancient cultural heritage in Yerevan, dating back to the 7th century BC. These actions, he claimed, are intended to erase Azerbaijani history and cultural heritage from its geographical roots, attempting to convince the global community of Armenian ownership of these lands. He further stated that Armenians have altered toponyms and falsified names to assert territorial claims, noting that many cultural monuments labeled as 'Turkmen' are actually creations of the Gara Goyunlu and other Turkic tribes.

The MP also pointed to examples of Armenian vandalism during the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories. Babaoglu noted that historical sites belonging to Azerbaijan's Christian heritage, such as the Amaras, Khudavang (Dadivank), and Ganjasar monasteries, were subjected to Armenian vandalism. The inscriptions on these monuments were reportedly falsified to misrepresent them as Armenian heritage. This destruction extended to historical sites created by other ethnic groups in the region. Babaoglu asserted that these acts aimed to falsify historical narratives and territorial claims, but these attempts have not succeeded because of the comprehensive approach of world historical science.

Babaoglu concluded by stating that Armenians continue to manipulate historical narratives even today.