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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, ARMENPRESS: This day five years ago the last cross-stone was destroyed in Jugha. Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan told Armenpress that in 2005 December 14 the Azerbaijani broke into pieces the last cross-stones of Jugha and by transporting by cars, cast into Arax River, which was screened and spread all over the world. “We can expect everything from Azerbaijan.
Today, after 5 years, Azerbaijan has not yet received an adequate response,” Hayk Demoyan said. English version of the booklet of “Azerbaijan: Vandalism as Always” by Hayk Demoyan has been published the other day, where the latter refers to barbaric annihilation of an Armenian graveyard in Hin Jugha (Old Jugha) by the Azerbaijani army in 2005 December. Chairman of “Tsirani” cultural, youth NGO Narek Ashughatoyan noted that the December 10-14 of 2005 is the period when the old Armenian graveyard of Jugha was annihilated forever.
“Our struggle for justice is going on, and we deeply believe that the international condemnation of this crime will prevent barbarian encroachments against other Armenian monuments,” Narek Ashughatoyan said, adding that during the whole year they carry out propagating works in that direction – organize one-month classes, lectures and discussions, increase the competence level of people. In the current stage the organization conducts researches on that theme, the results of which will be presented next year.
As a result of long-term and diligent work of “Tsirani”, it became possible to place at “globalheritagefund.org” world famous website materials, which present the cultural genocide committed in Jugha. “All this was brought to life thanks to our compatriots, who, together with us, periodically sent numerous letters to that institution,” Mr. Ashughatoyan said.
Hayk Demoyan also pointed out that if a state denies what has been proved by numerous testimonies, photos and video materials, then this is not only the issue of Armenia and Azerbaijan, but of the whole world as well, but up today no international organization, including UNESCO, has given adequate assessment to these barbarian activities organized and implemented by Azerbaijan on state level. From about 10 thousand cross-stones of the 17th century only 3 thousand were left at the end of the 20th century in Jugha.
As a result of the vandalism organized by the Azerbaijani government the last three thousand cross-stones of Jugha were destroyed as well. The last case of annihilation of cross-stones of Jugha graveyard was registered in 2005. The cross-stones were destroyed by means of a heavy construction engendering, and the free territory of the graveyard turned into a shooting-ground. On this occasion the Parliament of Europe wished to send a mission to study the vandalism committed in Jugha graveyard, but the Azerbaijani leaderships sharply refused this initiative.