Artists, local residents and public figures have voiced concern over plans to dismantle a World War II memorial in the town of Artik, fearing the move could set a troubling precedent for other historical monuments across Armenia; the monument, erected in 1965 in Artik’s central Liberty Square, commemorates the victims of the Great Patriotic War (World War II) and is designated as a nationally significant monument; despite its protected status, the local authorities, backed by the Armenian government, have approved its dismantling and relocation; historian and political analyst Derenik Malkhasyan suggested the decision could signal a shift towards policies echoing those of Eastern European and Baltic countries, where Soviet-era WWII monuments have been removed amid growing anti-Russian sentiment; “If dismantling is successful in Artik, this may become a model other communities will follow,” Malkhasyan warned in a social media post on July 26; in an interview with Panorama.am on Tuesday, Artur Gevorgyan, a sculptor and head of the Gyumri National Park-Museum of Sculpture, stated that dismantling such a monument is unprecedented in Armenia; “No monument recognized as cultural heritage and registered with a passport has ever been dismantled in Armenia; when necessary, they’ve always been restored on-site,” Gevorgyan said, “They claim it will be reassembled later, but such promises are rarely fulfilled; this may very well become a lingering issue for the community”; Gevorgyan also criticized the official reasoning behind the dismantling; he said that during discussions with local officials, some claimed that the monument obstructs the view of the Artik Municipality building; “This is absurd,” Gevorgyan said; “The monument and the surrounding buildings, including the Municipality, were built according to a unified urban design plan; they do not interfere with one another”; officials have also cited plans to develop a recreational zone in the area; however, Gevorgyan argued that the existing space, with its benches, fountain and open layout, already serves that function and could be revitalized without removing the monument; he further questioned the financial feasibility of the project; documents released by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports mention an allocation of 5 million drams (approx. $12,500) for the project, a sum Gevorgyan says is insufficient for properly dismantling and restoring a monument of this scale; “You can’t dismantle and restore such a massive structure with so little funding,” he stated; Gevorgyan also condemned the lack of public consultation; descendants of WWII veterans, local cultural experts, and other stakeholders were not involved in the decision-making process; “Any relocation of a monument with cultural heritage status requires a detailed, well-justified government resolution,” he argued; the sculptor warned that dismantling the dismantling of a World War II memorial in Armenia would trigger a profound moral and ideological crisis; “This isn’t just about a monument, it’s about our values; are we denying our grandfathers’ victory? What message are we sending to future generations?” he asked; “If a WWII monument is dismantled today, who’s to say they won’t do the same to memorials honoring Artsakh war heroes under the same pretext of urban development tomorrow?”; when contacted by Panorama.am, Sevak Petoyan, an assistant to Artik’s mayor, confirmed that the issue remains under discussion; “The Artik Municipality will soon release an official statement and may hold a press conference to address all questions,” Petoyan said.