On 18th December 2025, the Nagorno-Karabakh Inquiry issued a call for written submissions. 

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The Inquiry invites anyone with relevant knowledge to submit written responses to the questions below. Please respond only to questions relating to your expertise or experience. 

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The responses are to be sent via email to Áine Macdonald: aine.macdonald@int-bar.org  

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The deadline for the responses is the 28th February 2026. 

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Questions 

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1. What information did you find when conducting research in Nagorno-Karabakh?

2. What mechanisms have you or your organisation used to assess the current state of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh following developments since April 2022?

3. Have you been able to obtain reliable, independent documentation of the condition of Armenian cultural and religious sites in the region?

4. Have you faced any obstacles to verifying reports of destruction? What are the main obstacles to verifying reports of destruction, alteration, or appropriation of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh?

5. Which international legal frameworks apply to the protection of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, and how is compliance currently being assessed?

6. Do you consider there to be risks of violations of the 1954 Hague Convention or other UNESCO cultural protection instruments?

7. What avenues exist for accountability if intentional destruction or alteration of cultural heritage is confirmed?

8. What preventive measures can be recommended to ensure that cultural heritage sites are not subjected to reinterpretation, repurposing, or neglect? 

9. What steps are being taken to secure on-the-ground access for independent experts and UN agencies to assess cultural heritage conditions?

10. How is your office engaging with both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as international organisations like UNESCO, to ensure cooperation and transparency?

11. What measures does international law provide to safeguard the cultural rights of communities that have been forcibly displaced?

12. In similar cases worldwide, what best practices exist to preserve cultural ties when communities can no longer physically access their heritage?

13. What role can civil society and academic institutions play in providing credible monitoring or data?

14. What recommendations do you envision for ensuring long-term protection of the region’s multicultural heritage?

15. What advocacy strategies have been most effective in raising awareness about cultural destruction in Nagorno-Karabakh?

16. What challenges do you face when trying to bring the issue to international attention?

17. Any other comments?