Russian President’s Special Envoy for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy has criticized the demolition of 25 monuments and busts dedicated to prominent Armenian figures and military leaders in Nagorno-Karabakh, calling it an “ignoble activity,” TASS reports.
“Waging war against monuments is not the best occupation for any country. They reflect the history of the peoples who lived on this land,” Shvydkoy said. “Fighting monuments is not the most noble thing to do.”
He stressed that while politics often influences culture, it remains “short-term,” whereas culture endures. “In addition to interstate relations, there are relations between peoples, which are much deeper. It is important today to preserve all the cultural ties that have historically connected us with the peoples living alongside us,” Shvydkoy concluded.
