Baku: Armenia’s occupation policy has been characterized by looting, vandalism and urbanicide: Armenia’s occupation policy has been characterized by targeted looting, vandalism and urban destruction, Fatma Yildirim, Deputy Chairwoman of the Milli Majlis Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Ecology, told APA.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the MP stated that President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks during a meeting with residents at the opening of the 2nd residential complex in Aghdam on December 24 highlighted the long-standing grievances of not just one region but the entire Azerbaijani population. She described Armenia’s occupation policy as a strategic act of plunder, vandalism, and urban destruction aimed at obliterating the historical and cultural heritage of Azerbaijan in the occupied regions. The intention was to erase millennia-old traces and render the lands uninhabitable. Evidence from the territories liberated post-2020 vividly illustrated the destruction of Azerbaijani cultural heritage, including mosques and holy shrines. This vandalism extends beyond an attack on Azerbaijani culture to being a crime against humanity.
Fatma Yildirim also underscored the systematic demolition of buildings and looting of properties, with valuables transported to Armenia and other countries. She highlighted the exploitation of Azerbaijan’s natural resources, leading to ecological damage that threatens the rights of future generations. The involvement of Western companies in this exploitation, without facing consequences, remains a pressing concern.
The MP further noted Armenia’s mass planting of mines in the area as one of its gravest crimes, intended to deter displaced people from returning post-war. She lamented the casualties and injuries caused by these mines, which constitute a serious breach of international humanitarian law.
Fatma Yildirim emphasized that Azerbaijan is now focused on rebuilding and making history, as demonstrated by the development of new residential complexes in Aghdam and the restoration of infrastructure. These efforts represent the strength of the Azerbaijani state, its political will, and the unity between the President and the people. The revival of Aghdam symbolizes the restoration of justice and a promising future for Azerbaijan.