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Azerbaijan has demolished the historic district in central Stepanakert, the capital of occupied Artsakh, the Monument Watch warns.

Its one- to two-story houses dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries were made out of local white limestone. After the economic revitalization in the late 19th century, the neighborhood underwent major renovation and development in line with the principles of urban planning in Shushi.

The houses of Stepanakert’s historic district bore a striking resemblance to the houses of Shushi. Most of the houses were built by ethnic Armenian residents.

“Through the destruction of Stepanakert’s historic core, Azerbaijan is erasing the city's Armenian past. It’s worth noting that in late 2023, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev made a special reference to the history of Stepanakert in one of his speeches, naturally distorting it,” the watchdog underscored.