Azerbaijan destroys Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh.
In a move that has sparked controversy and accusations of cultural heritage damage, Azerbaijan has begun the demolition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Foreign Ministry in Stepanakert. The Azerbaijani state media outlet Azertac reported the demolition, which took place on a symbolically significant date – the anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh's declaration of independence.
The demolition is part of Azerbaijan's reconstruction efforts, but it has been met with strong criticism. The Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament in-exile issued a statement commemorating the declaration of independence, emphasizing the historical and legal foundations of the decision as being of pan-Armenian importance. The statement also stressed the need to preserve and protect Armenian national, cultural, and religious heritage.
Samvel Shahramanyan, the president of Nagorno-Karabakh, delivered a speech at a memorial dedicated to Nagorno-Karabakh on the same day. In his speech, he referred to Nagorno-Karabakh as a "noose" around Armenia's neck. The statement issued by the Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament in-exile accused Azerbaijan of committing genocide by denying the collective return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh.
The statement also criticized the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group the day prior. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) announced the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group on September 1, 2025, through a unanimous decision of the OSCE Ministerial Council involving all 57 participating states. The statement considered the 2020 war and Azerbaijan's actions in September 2023 as a sacrifice of the right to self-determination and free living to brute force, economic interests, and totalitarian ambitions.
The statement demanded that Yerevan call upon international organizations to place the release of Armenian prisoners standing trial in Azerbaijan on their agenda. The city of Stepanakert, where the Foreign Ministry is located, is largely deserted after the mass exodus of its Armenian population.
In a report by News.am, it was stated that Karabakh University, formerly known as Artsakh University, currently teaches almost 1500 students and has 300 teachers. The university was officially registered in late November 2023. Despite the ongoing reconstruction efforts, the future of Nagorno-Karabakh remains uncertain, with tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan continuing to simmer.
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