Azerbaijan destroys the Foreign Ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh, situated in Stepanakert.

On the anniversary of Nagorno-Karabakh's declaration of independence, a significant event unfolded as Azerbaijan commenced the demolition of the Foreign Ministry building in Stepanakert, the capital city of the disputed region.

The demolished building, which previously served as the headquarters for Nagorno-Karabakh's Foreign Ministry, will make way for a new three-story administrative building, according to Azerbaijani reports by Azertac, a state media outlet. This new structure is intended for the Regional Architecture and Urban Planning Department.

Meanwhile, Nagorno-Karabakh's Parliament in-exile issued a statement, emphasising the importance of preserving and protecting Armenian national, cultural, and religious heritage. The statement also criticised the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group without creating mechanisms for protecting the rights of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians.

The parliament further demanded that Yerevan call upon international organisations to place the release of Armenian prisoners standing trial in Azerbaijan on their agenda. The statement viewed the complete occupation and depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh as a sacrifice of the right to self-determination and free living to brute force, economic interests, and totalitarian ambitions.

In a related development, Samvel Shahramanyan, the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, delivered a speech at a memorial dedicated to Nagorno-Karabakh on the same day. He described Nagorno-Karabakh as a "noose" around Armenia's neck. The statement referred to the 2020 war and the genocidal actions of Azerbaijan in September 2023 as a dark and disgraceful page in history.

On a positive note, Karabakh University, formerly known as Artsakh University, continues to thrive. Currently, it teaches almost 1,500 students and has 300 teachers. The university was officially registered in late November 2023.

As the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh continues to evolve, both sides remain committed to their respective positions, underscoring the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the long-standing conflict.