Nikol Pashinyan addresses Gandzasar heritage claims and Artsakh political status

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed two major issues regarding the aftermath of the conflict with Azerbaijan: cultural heritage disputes and the political status of displaced Artsakh officials.

Pashinyan condemned recent statements by Azerbaijani presidential assistant Hikmet Hadjiev, who claimed the Gandzasar Monastery belongs to ‘Albanian’ heritage. Pashinyan described the rhetoric as “unacceptable and incomprehensible,” noting that it undermines peace efforts. He emphasized that the Matenadaran has already confirmed the monastery’s Armenian origins and stated that attempting to prove this to Azerbaijan is “senseless” and will not change the outcome.

Separately, Pashinyan warned that his government will use the “toughest measures” to prevent any attempts to maintain a separate Artsakh government or parliament within Armenia. During a parliamentary debate regarding housing for the more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians displaced following Azerbaijan’s September 2023 offensive, Pashinyan called for the Artsakh representative office in Yerevan to be placed under state control. He criticized unnamed former Artsakh officials for owning significant property, including hotels and buildings in Yerevan, while displaced families struggle with high rents, suggesting these properties should be made available to the people.