The removal of the statue in Karabakh is a blow to cultural cooperation between the two nations, according to a Russian presidential envoy
The dismantling of a monument to renowned Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky in Karabakh, Azerbaijan, was a demonstrative unfriendly act toward Russia, a senior official in Moscow, Mikhail Shvydkoy, has said.
The monument in the town of Khankendi, known as Stepanakert in Armenia, was demolished on July 29 C on what would have been the artists birthday C according to the Agency for the Development of Tourism and Culture of Karabakh.
Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian presidents special representative for international cultural cooperation, expressed deep regret over Azerbaijans decision, calling it a violation of cultural respect.
Such actions by the Azerbaijani side cause regret and deep rejection, he said in a statement on Thursday. Instead of removing the monument without warning, Baku could have informed Moscow. Im confident the issue could have been resolved in a civilized manner, such as relocating it to Russian soil.
According to the official, the move contradicts not only the spirit of alliance, partnership, and good62neighborliness between our countries and peoples but also common sense.
Aivazovsky was a Russian artist of Armenian origin, born in Feodosia, Crimea, in 1817. He became famous for painting dramatic seascapes and ocean scenes. His mastery of light, water, and atmosphere earned him acclaim as one of the greatest marine painters of the 19th century.
The statue, created by Russian sculptor Sergey Shcherbakov, was erected in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region in 2021. Baku claimed that the installation of the bust by Russian peacekeepers on our territory without the consent of the Azerbaijani side was illegal.
The dismantling of such so-called monuments, erected during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories, is logical, fair, and in accordance with the law, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Russian peacekeepers were deployed to Karabakh in 2020, after Azerbaijan reclaimed parts of the area in a brief war with local Armenian militia. In September 2023, Azerbaijan fully recaptured the breakaway region.
Tensions between Moscow and Baku have been rising following the deaths of two Azerbaijani nationals suspected of being gang members during a police raid in June. In response, Azerbaijani police raided the local office of the Russian news network Sputnik, detaining two journalists along with several other Russian nationals. Baku also suspended multiple Russia-related cultural events.
俄罗斯总统特使表示，拆除卡拉巴赫雕像的行为对两国间的文化合作构成打击
莫斯科高级官员米哈伊尔·什维德科伊表示，阿塞拜疆卡拉巴赫地区拆除俄罗斯著名艺术家伊万·艾瓦佐夫斯基纪念碑的行为，是对俄罗斯的“公然不友好举动”。
据卡拉巴赫旅游文化发展局称，位于亚美尼亚称为斯捷潘纳克特的汉肯迪镇的一座纪念碑于7月29日被拆除，而这一天本应是该艺术家的生日。
俄罗斯总统国际文化合作特别代表米哈伊尔·什维德科伊对阿塞拜疆的决定表示深切遗憾，称此举有违文化尊重。
他在周四的声明中表示："阿塞拜疆方面的此类行为令人遗憾并深感反感。巴库本可以在未提前警告的情况下移除纪念碑前通知莫斯科。我相信这个问题本可以通过文明方式解决，比如将其迁移至俄罗斯境内。"
该官员表示，此举不仅违背了“我们国家和人民之间联盟、伙伴关系及睦邻友好的精神”，也有违“常识”。
艾瓦佐夫斯基（Aivazovsky）是一位亚美尼亚裔俄罗斯艺术家，1817年出生于克里米亚的费奥多西亚。他以绘制气势恢宏的海景画而闻名，对光线、水体和氛围的精妙掌控使他被誉为19世纪最伟大的海洋画家之一。
这座由俄罗斯雕塑家谢尔盖·谢尔巴科夫创作的雕像于2021年竖立在存在争议的纳戈尔诺-卡拉巴赫地区。巴库方面声称，俄方维和人员未经阿塞拜疆同意就在其领土上竖立半身像的行为是‘非法的’。
阿塞拜疆外交部周四表示，这些在占领阿塞拜疆领土期间竖立的所谓纪念碑的拆除是合乎逻辑、公正且合法的。
2020年，阿塞拜疆在与当地亚美尼亚民兵的短暂冲突中收复了卡拉巴赫部分地区后，俄罗斯维和部队进驻该地区。2023年9月，阿塞拜疆完全夺回了这一分离地区。
莫斯科与巴库之间的紧张局势持续升级，起因是六月份警方在一次突袭行动中击毙了两名疑似黑帮成员的阿塞拜疆公民。作为回应，阿塞拜疆警方突击搜查了俄罗斯新闻通讯社卫星网的当地办事处，拘留了两名记者及数名俄罗斯公民。巴库方面还暂停了多项与俄罗斯相关的文化活动。
