BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva reviewed the ongoing restoration and conservation works at the Momine Khatun Mausoleum in Nakhchivan city on August 11.
The information was released by the Press Service of the President of Azerbaijan.
Director of Atelier Erich Pummer GmbH Erich Pummer informed the President and the First Lady about the restoration works being carried out at the historic monument.
The works are being implemented in accordance with the 2023–2027 State Programme for the Socio-Economic Development of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, approved by President Ilham Aliyev in 2023. The programme includes assessing the condition of historical and architectural monuments in the region and carrying out restoration and conservation measures.
Following inspections and research conducted by local and international experts between 2023 and 2025, the need for restoration and conservation works at the mausoleum was identified.
In 2025, President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on measures related to the restoration and conservation of the Momine Khatun Mausoleum, a monument of global historical and architectural significance.
One of the most remarkable examples of Azerbaijani architecture, the mausoleum was built in 1186 by architect Ajami Nakhchivani. Historical sources indicate that it was part of the Atabegs Architectural Complex, of which only this monument has survived to the present day.
The monument originally had a total height of 34 metres, but after an eight-metre section of the external covering was destroyed over time, its current height is approximately 26 metres. The mausoleum consists of underground and above-ground sections.
Considering the architectural value and significance of the monument, an agreement was signed with an Austrian company with extensive experience in this field. A comprehensive assessment, research and measurement works were carried out to determine the current condition of the structure.
Restoration works currently include rebuilding the roof, monitoring and measuring structural deformation, and installing a drainage system.
The Momine Khatun Mausoleum was placed under state protection as a monument of world significance in 2001. In 1998, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
The restoration project is considered highly important for preserving and promoting Azerbaijan’s historical heritage. Created by the renowned Azerbaijani architect Ajami Nakhchivani, the mausoleum is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Eastern architecture and a symbol of the advanced cultural and state traditions of medieval Azerbaijan.
