Azykh Cave was used as weapons depot during occupation, official says

Armenians used Azykh Cave as a weapons depot during the early years of the occupation, Sabina Hajiyeva, Head of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Culture, said.

According to Report, she made the remarks on the fourth day of Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026).

Hajiyeva said illegal excavations were carried out in subsequent years, including with the participation of foreign individuals, and numerous artifacts discovered at Azykh Cave were removed from the area.

"Azerbaijan is one of the most relevant examples when it comes to studying the consequences of occupation and determining what steps should be taken in such circumstances. When you are in the midst of such a process, you are under pressure, unable to see your monuments or be together with your native lands," she said.

Hajiyeva noted that throughout history, cultural heritage has often been among the first victims of conflicts and disasters.

"Conflicts not only lead to the destruction of monuments, the looting of cultural property and its illegal removal and transfer abroad, but also disrupt traditions, weaken communities and endanger the cultural identity and memory that connect people to their history and to one another," she said.