BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 12. Restoration and conservation work at the Momine Khatun Mausoleum in Nakhchivan is expected to take several years, Erich Pummer, director of Austrian company Atelier Erich Pummer GmbH, told Trend in an exclusive interview.
According to him, the initial stage focusing on a comprehensive assessment of the monument’s condition, the selection of appropriate materials and the installation of systems to monitor its structural stability.
He noted that specialists have already carried out the necessary assessments and studied the history of the mausoleum, as well as the nature of the damage affecting the monument.
“We have already conducted the necessary studies and examined the history of the monument and the damage it has sustained. Based on the experience we have gained, we are proposing a system that will help preserve and stabilize the mausoleum,” Pummer said.
He stressed that the current stage is the first phase of a project that will take several years to complete.
“At the first stage, it was particularly important to determine which systems and materials should be used, as well as which systems can be deployed for continuous monitoring of the monument’s structural condition. These are the main issues we are currently working on,” the company director said.
On August 11, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva inspected the restoration and conservation work being carried out at the Momine Khatun Mausoleum.
The restoration is being carried out as part of efforts to preserve the historical and architectural heritage of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. In 2023–2025, local and international specialists conducted assessments and studies of the mausoleum’s condition, confirming the need for restoration and conservation work.
In 2025, the head of state signed an order on measures to restore and conserve the Momine Khatun Mausoleum, a historical and architectural monument of global significance.
The mausoleum was built in 1186 by prominent Azerbaijani architect Ajami Nakhchivani and was part of the Atabeg architectural complex. It is the only surviving structure of the complex.
Specialists are currently working on the restoration of the mausoleum and reconstruction of its roof, measuring and monitoring the existing tilt of the structure, and installing a drainage system.
