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Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 24 2006
Gov't slams Russian culture worker for grave destruction claim
Baku, March 23, AssA-Irada
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism has condemned a
Russian culture worker's recent statement concerning the alleged
destruction of ancient graves in Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan.
Mikhail Piotrovski of Armenian descent, who heads the Hermitage, one
of the largest museums in the world and is a correspondent member of
the Russian Academy of Sciences, went as far as describing the
alleged destruction of Armenian tombstone crosses in Julfa,
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as a crime.
In a statement, the Ministry said the utterances by Piotrovski and
distortion of historic facts showed that he is poorly informed on the
matter. In 1960s, after an appeal by the Catalicos [clerical leader]
to then Soviet leadership, the tombstones in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
and Julfa cemeteries were transferred to Armenia. Moreover, other
ancient tombstones dating back to the period of Caucasus Albania were
stolen from Azerbaijan's Districts of Gazakh, Tovuz, Gadabay, Gubadli
and Lachin and also moved to Armenia. The views of Armenian
historians, who politicized the issue and distorted the facts were
reflected in the mentioned statements by the Russian cultural figure,
the Ministry indicated.
The statement said further that Armenian barbarians, ignoring the
demands of UNESCO and other international organizations, continue to
pursue their policy of aggression. It warned that Piotrovski's views
do not reflect the attitude of influential and unbiased Russian
historians and scholars.
Piotrovski's statement and his inclination to mix science with
politics comes as no surprise due to his origin. His mother is of
Armenian descent, while his father is an academician of the Armenian
Academy of Sciences, archaeologist and Orientalist.*
March 24 2006
Gov't slams Russian culture worker for grave destruction claim
Baku, March 23, AssA-Irada
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism has condemned a
Russian culture worker's recent statement concerning the alleged
destruction of ancient graves in Azerbaijan's exclave of Nakhchivan.
Mikhail Piotrovski of Armenian descent, who heads the Hermitage, one
of the largest museums in the world and is a correspondent member of
the Russian Academy of Sciences, went as far as describing the
alleged destruction of Armenian tombstone crosses in Julfa,
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as a crime.
In a statement, the Ministry said the utterances by Piotrovski and
distortion of historic facts showed that he is poorly informed on the
matter. In 1960s, after an appeal by the Catalicos [clerical leader]
to then Soviet leadership, the tombstones in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
and Julfa cemeteries were transferred to Armenia. Moreover, other
ancient tombstones dating back to the period of Caucasus Albania were
stolen from Azerbaijan's Districts of Gazakh, Tovuz, Gadabay, Gubadli
and Lachin and also moved to Armenia. The views of Armenian
historians, who politicized the issue and distorted the facts were
reflected in the mentioned statements by the Russian cultural figure,
the Ministry indicated.
The statement said further that Armenian barbarians, ignoring the
demands of UNESCO and other international organizations, continue to
pursue their policy of aggression. It warned that Piotrovski's views
do not reflect the attitude of influential and unbiased Russian
historians and scholars.
Piotrovski's statement and his inclination to mix science with
politics comes as no surprise due to his origin. His mother is of
Armenian descent, while his father is an academician of the Armenian
Academy of Sciences, archaeologist and Orientalist.*