Damir Mukhetdinov comments on destroyed mosques in Karabakh

"I was struck by the selective approach of cultural figures, who quite openly pointed out that they consider only the Christian churches of Nagorno-Karabakh to be a cultural property and must be preserved. They do not hesitate to turn a blind eye to the desecration and destruction of Muslim monuments."

Damir Mukhetdinov, First Vice-Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SAM) of the Russian Federation, wrote on a Facebook page.

He noted that he was surprised to read the news about the appeal of famous cultural figures to UNESCO. Directors, conductors, musicians, and other representatives of the creative elite ask to include monuments of the Christian cultural, artistic and architectural heritage of the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the world heritage list for their further preservation.

"Over the decades of being on the territory of the unrecognized "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" Armenians destroyed 63 out of 67 mosques! The number of damaged historical and cultural monuments goes to hundreds. I would rate as very shameless hints about the potential destruction of churches whose ownership is disputed by the Albanian-UDI Church, while completely ignoring the cultural catastrophe that has befallen dozens and hundreds of Muslim monuments in Karabakh, " he wrote.

Mukhetdinov stressed that with an objective approach, any observer is forced to note that Azerbaijan positions itself as a multicultural state that treats all religious traditions with equal respect. Baku – has been repeatedly chosen as the capital of the Summit of Leaders of World Religions. Moreover, he called the fact of attracting UNESCO's attention to Karabakh's historical heritage correct.