On May 8-9, 1992, the Armenian self-defense forces successfully liberated the city of Shushi, which played a crucial role in the military liberation of Artsakh. Prior to this, Shushi had been occupied by Azerbaijan following the third war between the two countries. According to Hovik Avanesyan, an Armenian cultural anthropologist, Azerbaijan had established its own cultural and political system of independence within the region of Artsakh since the early days of organizing the Artsakh self-defense in 1918. However, Avanesyan emphasizes that after the liberation of Shushi, Azerbaijani forces intentionally destroyed the city’s cultural civilization, contrary to the truth. This assertion is supported by the opinions of experts and historians.

Avanesyan further highlights that Azerbaijan produced documents accusing the Armenian side of destroying and interfering with the historical monuments of Shushi, which is factually incorrect. In reality, the restoration of the city’s cultural legacy was carried out by archaeologists and experts, including those from Iran, with careful consideration of all principles and expert opinions.

The Azerbaijani historian also acknowledges that during the 2020 war, the cultural civilization of Shushi not only suffered damage but also experienced “reconstruction” that misrepresented its true image. It was presented with an old portrayal that did not align with reality. This distortion of history also seeks to disconnect Shushi from its Armenian cultural heritage and instead portray it as a center of Islamic civilization.

As a result, it is not just Shushi that has been affected, but also the historical Armenian self-defense in Artsakh, as Azerbaijani statehood attempts to carry out an Islamic transformation. This is evident in the way the current situation is being handled, as highlighted by Avanesyan in a detailed report on Facebook.