BAKU, Azerbaijan 

All historical and cultural monuments in the Karabakh region are under protection by police teams, said Azerbaijan’s Interior Ministry on Thursday. 

Police guarantee the security and protection of religious and cultural monuments in all settlements within the Karabakh region, said a ministry statement.

These monuments include the Amaras Monastery in the Khojavend province, the Gandzasar Monastery in the village of Vangli in the Kalbajar province, and a cathedral and a church in the city Khankendi – all monuments of Christian ethnic Armenian residents of the region.

Azerbaijan regained full control over its territory of Karabakh last month after taking counter-terrorism actions in the area, which resulted in the surrender of illegal armed groups, ending the decades-long conflict.

Authorities have repeatedly said that they will protect the rights and ensure the security of Armenian residents in Karabakh, in line with Azerbaijan's law.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar