Spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan Vanessa Schulz Zenji told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Mark Libby’s visit to Shushi on May 6 was made as “part of his regular travel throughout Azerbaijan.” Zenji suggested that the visit may have been connected with the efforts to make a peace treaty between Baku and Yerevan. “We have been encouraged by recent steps toward concluding an agreement and are committed to supporting a durable and dignified peace in the region,” she said.
However, Zenji did not respond to questions on whether the ambassador had asked local officials about the apparent cultural destruction taking place in Shushi, or whether Libby’s visit had been approved in Washington.
