Uncontained wildfires in Karabakh put Armenian heritage at risk

By Alexander Pracht

Severe wildfires that have been burning in Nagorno-Karabakh since early last week have yet to be contained and pose a threat to Armenian cultural heritage in the region, the Karabakh government in exile said in a statement on Monday. Azerbaijani forces that control the region have acknowledged that they have so far been unable to cope with the disaster. 

The exiled cabinet said around 100 monuments are at risk, including the Amaras Monastery Complex.

“Azerbaijan must abide by international law and conventions on the protection of cultural heritage and ensure the preservation of cultural and natural heritage in the territories under its control. It must take urgent measures to extinguish the fires and to restore the damage caused,” the statement said. It also urged international bodies and organizations to assess the situation and take meaningful action to preserve Karabakh’s Armenian heritage.

While the Azerbaijani Emergency Ministry is using firefighting equipment, it has so far failed to fully extinguish the blazes. "Firefighting operations are being hampered by difficult terrain and strong winds," the ministry said in a statement Thursday.

As a heatwave fuels wildfires across southeastern Europe, including in Turkey and Cyprus, Armenia has also faced serious outbreaks. Over the weekend, a blaze erupted in the Ararat province, burning parts of the Khosrov Forest State Reserve. Armenia's Interior Ministry announced Monday that the fire had been extinguished with the help of firefighting helicopters, police, forest rangers, AND local volunteers.