Cathedral shelled in heavy fighting with Azerbaijan
YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia accused Azerbaijan on Thursday of shelling a historic cathedral in the separatist territory of NagornoKarabakh, where nearly two weeks of heavy fighting has killed hundreds of people.
The Holy Savior Cathedral, also known as the Ghazanchetsots Cathedral, suffered interior and exterior damage, according to the staterun Armenian Unified Infocenter.
Media reports said some children were inside the cathedral in the town of Shusha at the time of the shelling, and although they were not wounded, they suffered from stress after the attack.
Built in the 19th century, the cathedral suffered significant damage during ethnic violence in 1920. It was restored after fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the 1990s and is part of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry denied attacking the cathedral, saying its army “doesn’t target historical, cultural, especially religious buildings and monuments.”
The latest clashes between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces began Sept. 27 and mark the biggest escalation of the decadesold conflict over NagornoKarabakh. The region lies in Azerbaijan but has been under control of ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia since the end of a separatist war in 1994.
Fighting with heavy artillery, warplanes and drones has continued despite numerous international calls for a ceasefire. Both sides accuse each other of expanding the hostilities beyond NagornoKarabakh and of targeting civilians.
According to the NagornoKarabakh military, 350 of its servicemen have been killed since Sept. 27. Azerbaijan hasn’t provided details on its military losses. Scores of civilians on both sides also have been killed.
Also on Thursday, Azerbaijani officials accused Armenian forces of attacking several of its villages and towns, and NagornoKarabakh forces said they were “suppressing the activity” of Azerbaijani forces along the line of contact.
Stepanakert, the capital of NagornoKarabakh, has been under intense shelling. Residents are staying in shelters, some of which are in the basements of apartment buildings.
Azerbaijan says Armenia’s withdrawal from the region is the main condition for a ceasefire. Armenian officials allege Turkey is involved in the conflict and is sending Syrian mercenaries to fight on Azerbaijan’s side. Turkey has publicly backed Azerbaijan in the conflict but denied sending fighters to the region.