Employees of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) have issued a statement regarding the controversy created in Armenia over Gandzasar Monastery.

Axar.az presents the statement:

"In recent days, the deliberate and artificially generated uproar in Armenia around monuments of Caucasian Albania located in Azerbaijan's Karabakh region, particularly Gandzasar Monastery, is merely an attempt to create cheap and meaningless sensationalism that has nothing to do with historical and academic realities.

In fact, the Gandzasar Monastery complex and Gandzasar Monastery, which is an important part of it, are historical monuments belonging to Caucasian Albania and have no connection with Armenian history. The fact that this monument belongs to Albania and its indigenous Albanian population has long been proven by indisputable historical and archaeological evidence. One of the most important facts confirming this is that Gandzasar Monastery was built in the historical geographical territory of Caucasian Albania, which has no connection with Armenians. This territory was one of the main provinces of the state of Caucasian Albania and underwent historical development as part of it. After the collapse of the Arab Caliphate, the rule of the Albanian kingdom was partially restored here. In the 12th–13th centuries, the Albanian-Khachin principality rose in this territory. The ruler of this principality was Hasan Jalal (1215–1261), one of Azerbaijan's prominent statesmen. Hasan Jalal and his wife were descendants of the renowned Albanian dynasty of the Mihranids. Hasan Jalal, who bore the title of king or absolute ruler, was referred to in contemporary sources by such titles as 'prince of princes, 'Prince of Khachin,' 'King of Albania' and others.

During the rule of Hasan Jalal, these historical lands of Azerbaijan experienced economic, political and cultural progress, and his era has been characterized as the Albanian Renaissance. Gandzasar Monastery was also built as a magnificent example of this renaissance.

An equal-armed cross, characteristic of the Albanians, was used at Gandzasar Monastery. The equal-armed cross served as a seal of the Albanians. The monastery was built using local construction materials from the region.

In addition, the epigraphic inscriptions on most monuments in Karabakh and at Gandzasar Monastery consist of texts belonging to the Albanians. These epigraphic inscriptions are stone inscriptions at Gandzasar Monastery. A book about the Gandzasar inscriptions, published in Petrograd in 1919 on the epigraphic texts of Gandzasar Monastery and deliberately destroyed by Armenians at the time, also confirmed that these monuments belonged to the Albanians. The frescoes (wall paintings) on the monastery further provide visual evidence that the monument belongs to Albanian heritage.

Armenians carried out deliberate measures aimed at Armenizing Gandzasar Monastery during the Soviet period and later during the occupation. In particular, the monastery's Albanian epigraphic monuments were destroyed or dismantled and taken to Armenia and replaced with distorted Armenian texts. At the same time, the equal-armed Albanian cross on Gandzasar Monastery was altered into a Gregorian cross of a different form. The tombs of Albanian Catholicoses inside the monastery were also tampered with, and the original structure of the graves was changed. During the occupation, Armenians also damaged the monument's original appearance at Gandzasar Monastery under the pretext of restoration, using construction materials brought from Armenia.

Given these scientific and historical realities concerning the monuments of Caucasian Albania, including Gandzasar Monastery, the discontent in Armenia over the observation of Armenian-made distortions during the visit of diplomats accredited in Azerbaijan to the liberated territories is nothing more than an attempt to conceal the truth.

We consider that the controversy raised by Armenia around Gandzasar Monastery has no scientific or historical basis and is currently aimed at undermining the peace agenda put forward by the Azerbaijani state. This provocation is a continuation of Armenia's many-year policy of appropriating Azerbaijan's national and spiritual values and culinary traditions and artificially claiming our monuments as its own. This shows that forces in Armenia that have not abandoned the illusion of a 'Greater Armenia' are now seeking to undermine steps being taken toward reality in their own country.

Azerbaijani scholars strongly condemn the campaign deliberately unleashed in Armenia around Gandzasar Monastery and call on the Armenian side to approach scientific facts objectively rather than resorting to artificial and false propaganda.

Isa Habibbayli, President of ANAS, academician

Govhar Bakhshaliyeva, Vice President of ANAS, academician

Ismayil Hajiyev, Chairman of the Nakhchivan Branch of ANAS, academician

Teymur Karimli, Director of the Institute of Manuscripts named after Muhammad Fuzuli of ANAS, academician

Nargiz Akhundova, academician

Artagin Salamzada, Director of the Institute of Architecture and Art of ANAS, corresponding member of ANAS

Hajifahraddin Safarli, corresponding member of ANAS

Konul Bunyadzada, corresponding member of ANAS

Vali Bakhsaliyev, corresponding member of ANAS

Jafar Giyasi, corresponding member of ANAS

Karim Shukurov, Director of the Institute of History and Ethnology named after Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov of ANAS, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor

Ilham Mammadzada, Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology of ANAS, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, professor

Farhad Guliyev, Director of the Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology of ANAS, PhD in History, associate professor

Kubra Aliyeva, Doctor of Arts, professor

Gafar Jabiyev, Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor

Aliagha Mammadli, Doctor of Anthropological Sciences, professor

Allahverdi Alimirzayev, Doctor of Historical Sciences, associate professor

Ramil Aghayev, Doctor of Historical Sciences, associate professor

Rahiba Aliyeva, Doctor of Architecture

Natiq Alishov, PhD in History, associate professor

Tavakkul Aliyev, PhD in History, associate professor

Taleh Aliyev, PhD in History, associate professor

Telman Ibrahimov, PhD in Art Studies, associate professor

Ellada Bakirova, PhD in History, associate professor

Vagif Asadov, PhD in History, associate professor

Ulviya Hajiyeva, PhD in History

Gulana Aliyeva, PhD in History