"We Are Our Mountains" Monument in Stepanakert

This article discusses the "We Are Our Mountains" monument, the most iconic landmark of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), currently under Azerbaijani occupation. For decades, this monument symbolized the Armenian heritage of Artsakh and was a beloved tourist destination.

Over 40 years ago, an international exhibition was held in Carrara, Italy, featuring masterpieces by renowned artists from around the world. Among them were works by the esteemed sculptor Professor Sargis Baghdasaryan, a People's Artist of Armenia and state award laureate. One of his exhibited pieces would later gain worldwide fame: the iconic sculpture, We Are Our Mountains. After the Carrara exhibition, Baghdasaryan decides to look for a place in Artsakh to erect a large version of the statue. And his choice stops on one of the hills at the entrance to Stepanakert.

"We Are Our Mountains" monument

About the Monument

The "We Are Our Mountains" monument (Armenian: Մենք ենք մեր լեռները) is located just north of Stepanakert in Nagorno-Karabakh. Construction took two years and was completed in 1967. Designed by sculptor Sargis Baghdasaryan and architect Yuri Akopian, the monument is considered a strong symbol of Armenian identity and heritage. Carved from volcanic tuff from Hoktemberyan, the nine-meter-high sculpture depicts an elderly man and woman, symbolizing the mountain people of Karabakh. Locally, it is known as "Tatik-Papik" (Grandmother and Grandfather) in Armenian and "Dedo-Babo" in the Karabakh dialect. It also appears on the official coat of arms of Artsakh.

Notably, the monument was designed without a pedestal to appear as though the figures emerge directly from the mountains—a choice reflecting their deep connection to the land. During its unveiling on November 1, 1967, Soviet officials from Baku questioned why the figures lacked visible legs. Baghdasaryan responded, "They are there, deeply rooted in their land."

"We Are Our Mountains" monument under construction in 1967

Following Azerbaijan's Occupation of Artsakh

On September 29, 2023, Azerbaijani officials raised the Azerbaijani flag on the monument following the capture of Stepanakert after a military offensive and the forced exodus of the Armenian population. Amid fears of possible demolition, the Azerbaijani government instead appropriated the monument, asserting it as part of Azerbaijan’s heritage, stating it was built in "Khankendi" and reflects Azerbaijan’s "tolerance of multicultural and religious monuments." Azerbaijani authorities also alleged the monument had been "Armenianized" and was originally an Azeri symbol.

This claim aligns with ongoing Azerbaijani efforts to appropriate Armenian cultural heritage, a pattern that has raised international concerns about the preservation of Artsakh’s historic identity.