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| The '''Shushi massacres''' <ref>Armenia in Crisis: The 1988 Earthquake - Page 6 | |||
| #REDIRECT ] | |||
| by Pierre Verluise</ref> were anti-Armenian pogroms during a war which resulted in more than | |||
| 20,000 Armenian deaths and the destruction of ''Shushi''. <ref>Why IDPs Matter in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict by Seepan V. Parseghian, p.5</ref> <ref>Historic Maps of Armenia: The Cartographic Heritage - Page 7 | |||
| by Rouben Galichian</ref> | |||
| == Name == | |||
| Mostly known as the ''Shushi massacre'' and sometimes the Shushi pogroms, see below for the usage of 'genocide'. | |||
| According to Chairman of the parliamentary Commission for Foreign Relations of Karabakh, Vahram Atanesyan: | |||
| {{cquote|The massacre of Armenians in Shushi in 1920 is nothing but a genocide, Chairman of the parliamentary Commission for Foreign Relations of Karabakh, Vahram Atanesyan, said at a press-conference today. He said the massacre was perpetrated by Azerbaijan with the support of the Turkish expeditionary corps. Atanesyan stressed that Karabakh has never been a part of Azerbaijan and was de facto independent at that moment, its status being recognized by Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. <ref>Chairman of the parliamentary Commission for Foreign Relations of Karabakh, Vahram Atanesyan, at a press-conference</ref>}} | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| On June 4-5, 1919, an armed Armenian-Turkish clash takes place in Shushi, organized and incited by Governor-General Sultanov. The town was isolated and blockaded, and the Armenian population found itself in acute need of food. The barracks in Khankendi (Stepanakert) were filled with soldiers of the Azeri army, and only a single unit of the English army was located in the town, which comprised of Sipayis (?), Muslim Indians. The Armenian part of Shushi was under a siege imposed by the armed Turks. The Armenian forces were not only scarce, but had no weapon cartridges. | |||
| The attempts to subjugate Karabakh to Azerbaijan kept failing. The Armenian National Council of Karabakh remained unflinching. Sultanov’s goal was bring Karabagh to its knees through massacres, violence and terror, and he was going to start from Shushi. The shootings of June 4-5 left casualties on both sides. The English mission in Shushi presented to the Armenian side Sultanov’s condition for a ceasefire: removal of the Armenian National Council members from the town. On June 5, three members of the Council left Shushi. The ceasefire was reached partially due to the interference of the English soldiers. But a new wave of violence swept through the neighboring villages of Ghaibalishen, Pahlul and Krkzhan, which were pillaged June 5-7. About 700 people, mostly innocent civilians, were killed in Ghaibalishen. | |||
| The gang activities were led by the brother of the Governor-General. | |||
| {{cquote|Throughout Karabakh, Armenians particulary those from the city of Shushi fell victim to massacres during the continuous onslaught. <ref>Implementation of the Helsinki Accords: By United States Congress. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, United States, p.69</ref>}} | |||
| ===Massacres in Shushi on March 22-26, 1920=== | |||
| From the very start of 1920, Governor Sultanov, breaking the terms of the temporary agreement of August 22, 1919, tightened the blockade around Karabagh, not only through accumulation of armed forces in the strategically important locations, but also by arming the Turkish population, preparing the latter for guerrilla fights. | |||
| In the winter and spring of 1920, Sultanov, as always, was well aware of the degree of the Armenian population’s armament in Karabakh, which in fact was much worse than that of the Turks. One of his dispatches reads: “I think this is the most suitable moment for the final resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh issue, since they have few cartridges available. | |||
| Armenians were also aware of Sultanov’s preparations and tried to resist them. | |||
| In the early morning of March 23, 1920, when the Turkish population of Shushi was celebrating Novruz Bairam, a small Armenian detachment entered Shushi and tried to take over the barrack in accordance with an uprising program developed by the Karabakh self-defense commanders. | |||
| This started an exchange of fire, which served as a signal for Shushi’s armed Turkish population, the Azeri army soldiers and Kurdish gangs abounding in the town to attack the Armenian district, plunder, set everything on fire and start a horrible massacre of the Armenian population. | |||
| There is another version of what exactly started the massacre, according to which a Turkish officer tried to disarm a young Armenian and insulted the honor of the Armenian’s wife in the guy’s presence. The young man killed the officer, and then his whole family was slaughtered by the Turks accompanying the officer. While the shooting was going on, the Turks called for help from their companions-in-arms and brothers in faith. | |||
| The Turkish part of Shushi, the army located in the town, the “guerrilla” gangs that had arrived from other locations, seized by the rage of killing and plundering, ceaselessly and mercilessly slaughtered, destroyed, burnt and looted the Armenian part of the town for three days. | |||
| Nobody did or could have counted the number of victims and those who miraculously survived the ordeal. Let us mention again that, according to the 1914 data, more than 22 thousand Armenians lived in Shushi, whereas in 1921 their number was about 300. | |||
| The documented records provide more than sufficient evidence for stating that the massacre of the Armenians in Shushi was thoroughly prepared by the Azerbaijanian authorities, under the command of experienced Turkish emissaries (Khalil pasha). Otherwise it would be hard to believe that the peaceful population that was amid sending its prayers to God could in a wink of an eye, without arms, rush out for an attack upon hearing the shooting noise, and start the beastly destruction of everybody and everything. | |||
| On February 29, 1920 Sultanov sent a telegram to the Minister of Azerbaijan’s home affairs regarding the askyars’ dream: “They cherish an unfaltering dream of conquering Karabakh”. | |||
| The part of the dream that relates to Shushi was fulfilled. | |||
| “Ermenistan that you have seen is now burnt down, just about five or ten houses were left…“ | |||
| “After killing the prominent Armenians, their severed heads were carried and displayed during rounds made at the marketplaces…” | |||
| “You will see no more Armenians in our area; neither will you meet a Turk who has brought less than one hundred thousand’s worth of loot”. (Excerpts from the originals of Ottoman letters written in Arabic letters). | |||
| ===1988 Pogroms in Sumgait Were Genocide, Say Karabakh Legislators=== | |||
| Legislators from all factions represented in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic parliament issued a statement Monday urging the international community to recognize the planned pogroms of Armenians in the Azeri city of Sumgait in 1988 as Genocide and punish the perpetrators of these acts. Below is the English translation of the parliamentary announcement: On February 27, 2007, Armenians throughout the world will honor the memory of innocent victims of Armenian pogroms in Sumgait. Sumgait symbolizes the repressive policy of the Azeri authorities toward Armenians. By condemnation of this policy the Armenian nation declares to the world that it will consistently struggle for restoration of its violated rights. The pogrom, organized and executed in Sumgait on February 27-29 on a high state level, did not receive adequate political evaluation, and its organizers not only escaped punishment, but also their names remain unknown to the world wide community. Meanwhile, Ilyas Ismailov, then -Prosecutor-General of Azerbaijan, admitted that "perpetrators of the pogroms in Sumgait now carry mandates and sit in the Azeri Parliament". The policy of suppression toward the genocide in Sumgait allowed the Soviet Azeri leadership to carry out ethnic cleansing campaigns throughout the republic (November-December 1988 - Khanlar, Kutkashen, Vartashen and Shamhor regions, Mingechaur and other cities; November 1989 Kirovabad; January 1990 - Baku) and in Nagorno Karabakh proper (May 1988 -- Shushi; April-June 1991 -- operation "Koltso" ("The Ring"), as well as to unleash a full-scale aggression against population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Since the very emergence of the Azerbaijan, a policy of ethnic cleansing aimed at formation of a state without Armenians has been and remains to be organically included in the toolbox of Azerbaijani politicians. Extensive extermination of monuments, which belonged to ancient Christian culture also served to that goal. Meanwhile, we consider it unacceptable to allow Azerbaijani leadership to undertake attempts to put the massacre of peaceful population in Sumgait on the same footing with the events in Azeri-populated village of Khojalu, Askeran region of NKR, which has been turned into a firing point for shelling peaceful population, civilian and humanitarian objects in Stepanakert and surrounding Armenian villages. Moreover, distorting the facts concerning the true causes of the events in Khojalu, which have become a ring of domestic political struggle for power in Azerbaijan, the official Baku is, first of all, misleading its own people and passes over in silence the fact that Karabakh forces opened a humanitarian corridor for unimpeded exit of civilian population from the war zone. Such an attitude towards modern history postpones the perspective of establishing a confidence between the parties as a minimal condition for a dialogue, and hampers the constructive efforts by international mediators for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We urge all the parties, interested in the eradication of all forms of violence, especially towards the peaceful population, as well as in promoting democracy, respect for human rights and the soonest settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, to make an adequate evaluation of the tragic events in Sumgait, which do not have a time limitation due to gravity of the perpetrated crimes, condemning and qualifying them in line with the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Democracy Faction Motherland Faction Armenian Revolutionary Federation--Movement-88. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| == External links == | |||
| * | |||
| * | |||
| == Publications == | |||
| *Vahram Atanesian: 20,000 Armenians Died In Shushi Massacres of 1920 | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 20:19, 29 August 2007
The Shushi massacres were anti-Armenian pogroms during a war which resulted in more than 20,000 Armenian deaths and the destruction of Shushi.
Name
Mostly known as the Shushi massacre and sometimes the Shushi pogroms, see below for the usage of 'genocide'.
According to Chairman of the parliamentary Commission for Foreign Relations of Karabakh, Vahram Atanesyan:
The massacre of Armenians in Shushi in 1920 is nothing but a genocide, Chairman of the parliamentary Commission for Foreign Relations of Karabakh, Vahram Atanesyan, said at a press-conference today. He said the massacre was perpetrated by Azerbaijan with the support of the Turkish expeditionary corps. Atanesyan stressed that Karabakh has never been a part of Azerbaijan and was de facto independent at that moment, its status being recognized by Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Background
On June 4-5, 1919, an armed Armenian-Turkish clash takes place in Shushi, organized and incited by Governor-General Sultanov. The town was isolated and blockaded, and the Armenian population found itself in acute need of food. The barracks in Khankendi (Stepanakert) were filled with soldiers of the Azeri army, and only a single unit of the English army was located in the town, which comprised of Sipayis (?), Muslim Indians. The Armenian part of Shushi was under a siege imposed by the armed Turks. The Armenian forces were not only scarce, but had no weapon cartridges.
The attempts to subjugate Karabakh to Azerbaijan kept failing. The Armenian National Council of Karabakh remained unflinching. Sultanov’s goal was bring Karabagh to its knees through massacres, violence and terror, and he was going to start from Shushi. The shootings of June 4-5 left casualties on both sides. The English mission in Shushi presented to the Armenian side Sultanov’s condition for a ceasefire: removal of the Armenian National Council members from the town. On June 5, three members of the Council left Shushi. The ceasefire was reached partially due to the interference of the English soldiers. But a new wave of violence swept through the neighboring villages of Ghaibalishen, Pahlul and Krkzhan, which were pillaged June 5-7. About 700 people, mostly innocent civilians, were killed in Ghaibalishen.
The gang activities were led by the brother of the Governor-General.
Throughout Karabakh, Armenians particulary those from the city of Shushi fell victim to massacres during the continuous onslaught.
Massacres in Shushi on March 22-26, 1920
From the very start of 1920, Governor Sultanov, breaking the terms of the temporary agreement of August 22, 1919, tightened the blockade around Karabagh, not only through accumulation of armed forces in the strategically important locations, but also by arming the Turkish population, preparing the latter for guerrilla fights.
In the winter and spring of 1920, Sultanov, as always, was well aware of the degree of the Armenian population’s armament in Karabakh, which in fact was much worse than that of the Turks. One of his dispatches reads: “I think this is the most suitable moment for the final resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh issue, since they have few cartridges available.
Armenians were also aware of Sultanov’s preparations and tried to resist them.
In the early morning of March 23, 1920, when the Turkish population of Shushi was celebrating Novruz Bairam, a small Armenian detachment entered Shushi and tried to take over the barrack in accordance with an uprising program developed by the Karabakh self-defense commanders.
This started an exchange of fire, which served as a signal for Shushi’s armed Turkish population, the Azeri army soldiers and Kurdish gangs abounding in the town to attack the Armenian district, plunder, set everything on fire and start a horrible massacre of the Armenian population.
There is another version of what exactly started the massacre, according to which a Turkish officer tried to disarm a young Armenian and insulted the honor of the Armenian’s wife in the guy’s presence. The young man killed the officer, and then his whole family was slaughtered by the Turks accompanying the officer. While the shooting was going on, the Turks called for help from their companions-in-arms and brothers in faith.
The Turkish part of Shushi, the army located in the town, the “guerrilla” gangs that had arrived from other locations, seized by the rage of killing and plundering, ceaselessly and mercilessly slaughtered, destroyed, burnt and looted the Armenian part of the town for three days.
Nobody did or could have counted the number of victims and those who miraculously survived the ordeal. Let us mention again that, according to the 1914 data, more than 22 thousand Armenians lived in Shushi, whereas in 1921 their number was about 300.
The documented records provide more than sufficient evidence for stating that the massacre of the Armenians in Shushi was thoroughly prepared by the Azerbaijanian authorities, under the command of experienced Turkish emissaries (Khalil pasha). Otherwise it would be hard to believe that the peaceful population that was amid sending its prayers to God could in a wink of an eye, without arms, rush out for an attack upon hearing the shooting noise, and start the beastly destruction of everybody and everything.
On February 29, 1920 Sultanov sent a telegram to the Minister of Azerbaijan’s home affairs regarding the askyars’ dream: “They cherish an unfaltering dream of conquering Karabakh”.
The part of the dream that relates to Shushi was fulfilled.
“Ermenistan that you have seen is now burnt down, just about five or ten houses were left…“ “After killing the prominent Armenians, their severed heads were carried and displayed during rounds made at the marketplaces…” “You will see no more Armenians in our area; neither will you meet a Turk who has brought less than one hundred thousand’s worth of loot”. (Excerpts from the originals of Ottoman letters written in Arabic letters).
1988 Pogroms in Sumgait Were Genocide, Say Karabakh Legislators
Legislators from all factions represented in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic parliament issued a statement Monday urging the international community to recognize the planned pogroms of Armenians in the Azeri city of Sumgait in 1988 as Genocide and punish the perpetrators of these acts. Below is the English translation of the parliamentary announcement: On February 27, 2007, Armenians throughout the world will honor the memory of innocent victims of Armenian pogroms in Sumgait. Sumgait symbolizes the repressive policy of the Azeri authorities toward Armenians. By condemnation of this policy the Armenian nation declares to the world that it will consistently struggle for restoration of its violated rights. The pogrom, organized and executed in Sumgait on February 27-29 on a high state level, did not receive adequate political evaluation, and its organizers not only escaped punishment, but also their names remain unknown to the world wide community. Meanwhile, Ilyas Ismailov, then -Prosecutor-General of Azerbaijan, admitted that "perpetrators of the pogroms in Sumgait now carry mandates and sit in the Azeri Parliament". The policy of suppression toward the genocide in Sumgait allowed the Soviet Azeri leadership to carry out ethnic cleansing campaigns throughout the republic (November-December 1988 - Khanlar, Kutkashen, Vartashen and Shamhor regions, Mingechaur and other cities; November 1989 Kirovabad; January 1990 - Baku) and in Nagorno Karabakh proper (May 1988 -- Shushi; April-June 1991 -- operation "Koltso" ("The Ring"), as well as to unleash a full-scale aggression against population of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Since the very emergence of the Azerbaijan, a policy of ethnic cleansing aimed at formation of a state without Armenians has been and remains to be organically included in the toolbox of Azerbaijani politicians. Extensive extermination of monuments, which belonged to ancient Christian culture also served to that goal. Meanwhile, we consider it unacceptable to allow Azerbaijani leadership to undertake attempts to put the massacre of peaceful population in Sumgait on the same footing with the events in Azeri-populated village of Khojalu, Askeran region of NKR, which has been turned into a firing point for shelling peaceful population, civilian and humanitarian objects in Stepanakert and surrounding Armenian villages. Moreover, distorting the facts concerning the true causes of the events in Khojalu, which have become a ring of domestic political struggle for power in Azerbaijan, the official Baku is, first of all, misleading its own people and passes over in silence the fact that Karabakh forces opened a humanitarian corridor for unimpeded exit of civilian population from the war zone. Such an attitude towards modern history postpones the perspective of establishing a confidence between the parties as a minimal condition for a dialogue, and hampers the constructive efforts by international mediators for peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We urge all the parties, interested in the eradication of all forms of violence, especially towards the peaceful population, as well as in promoting democracy, respect for human rights and the soonest settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, to make an adequate evaluation of the tragic events in Sumgait, which do not have a time limitation due to gravity of the perpetrated crimes, condemning and qualifying them in line with the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Democracy Faction Motherland Faction Armenian Revolutionary Federation--Movement-88.
See also
External links
Publications
- Vahram Atanesian: 20,000 Armenians Died In Shushi Massacres of 1920
References
- Armenia in Crisis: The 1988 Earthquake - Page 6 by Pierre Verluise
- Why IDPs Matter in the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict by Seepan V. Parseghian, p.5
- Historic Maps of Armenia: The Cartographic Heritage - Page 7 by Rouben Galichian
- Chairman of the parliamentary Commission for Foreign Relations of Karabakh, Vahram Atanesyan, at a press-conference
- Implementation of the Helsinki Accords: By United States Congress. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, United States, p.69