LETTER FROM MEMBERS OF THE CAUCASUS BUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(B), THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE AZCP, AND MEMBERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COUNCIL OF THE 11TH RED ARMY TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(B) On the Necessity of Transferring Karabakh and Zangezur to Azerbaijan July 10, 1920 Top Secret
We consider it our duty to convey to the Central Committee a unified position on the issue of Zangezur and Karabakh, the resolution of which, as currently envisioned in negotiations with Armenia, appears to be provisional and contrary to the interests of the revolution in the Caucasus.
Under the Musavatist government, [Karabakh] was entirely part of Azerbaijan. The inseparable cultural and economic ties between Karabakh and Zangezur and Baku—which draws tens of thousands of workers from these provinces—and their complete detachment from Erivan were vividly demonstrated in 1919 at the peasant congress of Armenian Karabakh. Despite the unbearable conditions for Armenians under the Musavatist regime and the provocative activities of Armenian agents, the congress decisively expressed support for full unity with Azerbaijan, provided peaceful life for Armenians was guaranteed.*
Only from late 1919 and early 1920, especially following the Red Army’s victories over Denikin, did the foundations of Dashnak and Musavatist rule begin to crumble. Under the guidance of the Entente, these forces provoked a brutal national massacre, establishing their bloody dominance. After the arrival of the Red Army, the Soviet coup in Azerbaijan, and particularly the Khanobek uprising and its exceptionally correct suppression, the national war in Karabakh ceased entirely, giving way to a broad revolutionary peasant movement.
During this process, the army of askers and the detachments of Dashnak General Dro disintegrated, with Dro fleeing without his army beyond Gerusy. The Armenian and Muslim poor, having established Soviet power and engaged in revolutionary resolution of the issue, have already begun to unite on the basis of class interests and civil war, actively participating in the pursuit of Nuri Pasha’s bands. Karabakh and its mountainous region, shaken by civil war and the emergence of mass initiative, are increasingly becoming strongholds of Soviet construction and the formation of class consciousness among the masses of the East.
Despite the slow advance of the Red Army in Zangezur, the echo of its presence and the civil war in Karabakh can be felt in Karabakh, Zangezur, and Nakhichevan. Due to our passivity in Zangezur, remnants of the Dashnaks and Dro have remained, brutally persecuting Soviet workers and sympathizers of the Red Army. As a result, new Armenian uprisings against the Dashnaks are emerging, and Soviets are being organized that gravitate toward Azerbaijan and Russia. We have received numerous and consistent testimonies of the population’s deep loyalty to Soviet power and their fervent anticipation of the Red Army.
In northern Zangezur, in militant Kurdistan, Soviets have been partially organized on their own initiative. The general mood in the rest of the region is quite favorable. A divisional commissar who visited the area reports that the Kurds accept all conditions and directives of Soviet power. The militancy of our nomadic Kurds can easily and will be directed—once the Dashnaks are crushed in Zangezur—toward defending Azerbaijan’s borders.
Securing Zangezur under Soviet authority will not only restore our connection and create a reliable rear for the revolutionary Turkish movement in the Nakhichevan and Anatolian regions, but the Red Army’s movement into Zangezur will be accompanied by a tremendous upsurge and, without coercion on our part, will deepen and expand the Soviet republic.
Any neutralization of Zangezur and Karabakh or their transfer to the Dashnaks—which would mean death to the Soviets, fire and sword to the working masses, and the restoration of national fronts and enmity—will be regarded as betrayal. Chauvinism will be revived, and Armenian masses, seeking support in national struggle, will rally behind the Dashnaks. The Muslim population, having lost the buffer of revolutionary Armenian regions fighting the hated Dashnaks and seeing the Dashnaks revived at close range, will take up arms with curses against Soviet power. By that time, they will be disarmed both physically by the Red Army and morally by Soviet propaganda.
The Muslim masses will interpret this unexpected return to the old order and the Soviet power’s inability to preserve Azerbaijan’s former borders as betrayal, Armenophilism, or weakness. Either could provoke a tense uprising against Soviet power. The establishment of Dashnak rule in Zangezur and Karabakh will undermine the revolution in Turkey, deprive it of our support and connection, and create a threatening rear.
We warn the Central Committee against wavering on the issue of Karabakh and Zangezur, lest Azerbaijan be turned into a cripple dependent on the Red Army and parceled out to Armenians and Georgians, instead of being forged into a strong national center and a source of class revolution in the East.
Signed: Chair of the Revolutionary Committee Narimanov Member of the Caucasus Bureau of the RCP Mdivani Members of the Central Committee of the AZCP Mikoyan, Naneishvili Members of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 11th Red Army Vesnik, Levandovsky, Mikhailov**
Source: Archive of the Central Committee of the CPSU, File 44–33-a, pp. 72–73. Original. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 367.
**The authors of this letter completely ignore the historical rights of the Armenian people and the “Instruction” of the Central Committee of the RCP(B) dated July 7, 1920. Guided by the principle of exporting revolution, Azerbaijani national communists, in deference to the aggressive ambitions of Musavatist-Turkish circles, attempt to justify their expansionist plans with contrived arguments—namely, to conquer historically Armenian regions with the help of Russian Bolsheviks and transfer them to Azerbaijan, which had already adopted a “red” façade.
On the Possibility of Convening a Conference with Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan to Resolve All Disputed Issues Tiflis, July 12, 1920 Marked: “For Lenin Only” No. 19
On July 12, through my mediation, an agreement was reached between the Armenians and Azerbaijan to convene a conference in Kazakh in the coming days to resolve all disputed issues between Azerbaijan and Armenia. This agreement has now been undermined by reports received here that negotiations between Armenia and Russia have stalled. I urgently request information on the status of negotiations with Armenia, if an agreement has been reached. Please also communicate its substance. No. 1239 RGASPI, f. 80, op. 4, d. 54, l. 1. Copy from the document held in GARF, f. 130, op. 19, d. 44, l. 138. (*Note: The date in the document is incorrect and clarified by its content.)
On the Urgent Request of the Commander of the Turkish Eastern Front for the Red Army to Occupy Karabakh No. 01919/r July 12, 1920
Turkey: A courier from the commander of the Turkish Eastern Front, Lieutenant Sharif Yusuf of the Turkish service, who departed Trabzon on June 27 and arrived in Baku on July 9 via Tuapse, delivered the contents of a letter from the commander to the commander of the 11th Army verbally. The letter itself was thrown into the Black Sea by the courier after the ship he was traveling on was intercepted by the British submarine “Dodge.”
The letter stated: “Turkey has initiated military operations against the capitalists and imperialists, and open engagements against the British have already begun on the Western Front. Local governance structure: A month ago, a courier arrived from Russia, and based on his report, we understood that each region’s population must establish its own authority. Therefore, we desire that under Russia’s chairmanship, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia resolve territorial issues (this was already agreed upon with the previous courier. Kuatim has returned to Moscow). In accordance with the order of the Grand National Assembly, I began mobilization and launched an offensive, for which sufficient forces were available. The goal of the offensive was to seize strategic points on the Armenian front. After the arrival of your courier from Moscow, it became clear that the actions were premature, and we postponed further operations. Kazim Karabekir Pasha urgently requests that the Red Army occupy Karabakh to prevent fratricidal events and establish contact with them.”
Chief of Operations Department of the 11th Army – Voronkov Military Commissar – Babaev CGASA, f. 195, op. 3, d. 945, l. 123. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, doc. No. 370.
On the Continuation of the Aggressive Policy of the Musavat Government by Soviet Azerbaijan, the Complicit Position of Soviet Russia, and the Demand for Withdrawal of the Red Army from Nagorno-Karabakh and Zangezur No. 4192 July 12, 1920
Contrary to your assertions in telegrams No. 130 and No. 427 regarding the friendly attitude of the Russian Soviet Government toward the Republic of Armenia and its readiness to assist the Armenian people in the severe trials it has endured, Russian Soviet troops have occupied Armenian Karabakh and are now advancing toward Zangezur, an indisputable part of the Republic of Armenia.
This movement of your troops fundamentally violates the principle of national self-determination and the assurances previously given by your government, and cannot but sow doubt among the Armenian people regarding Soviet Russia’s goodwill toward them.
The former Musavat government of Azerbaijan, which for two years attempted to impose upon the Armenian peasantry of Karabakh and Zangezur the hated and alien rule of Azerbaijan by force of arms, was compelled to retreat before the unwavering will of the Zangezur and Karabakh peasantry. At eight congresses of peasant deputies, they categorically resolved to join their native Republic of Armenia. In late April of this year, the Ninth Congress of Karabakh Peasant Deputies reaffirmed the decisions of the previous congresses.
Now, under the guise of Soviet Russian authority and with the support of its armed forces, the government of Soviet Azerbaijan intends to implement on a broader scale the long-standing Musavat plan to sever Armenia’s historical lands, extending its claims not only to disputed but also to indisputable Armenian territories, such as Zangezur.
In this intention, the Armenian government sees an attempt to realize another cherished Musavat goal: to connect with the imperialists of Turkey through the living body of Armenia.
Faced with this new threat from Azerbaijan, my government cannot remain passive. Consistent in its peaceful stance, immediately after the establishment of Soviet power in Azerbaijan, my government proposed convening a special Armenian-Azerbaijani conference to peacefully resolve all disputed border issues. Only after two proposals did the Azerbaijani government agree.
At this moment, the entry of Russian Soviet troops into Armenian territory can only be regarded by my government as a violation of Armenia’s sovereign rights and the Armenian people’s right to free self-determination. We are prepared to interpret this movement solely as a result of the Russian command’s lack of awareness about the actual situation and Armenia’s borders.
On behalf of my government, I therefore request that you urgently issue an order for the withdrawal of Russian Soviet troops from Zangezur and Nagorno-Karabakh, thereby enabling the government to calmly discuss border disputes with Azerbaijan at the upcoming Armenian-Azerbaijani conference.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia – Ohandjanian CGIA of Armenia, f. 200, op. 1, d. 581, pp. 149–150. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, doc. No. 369.
To the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR G. Chicherin and the Plenipotentiary Representative of the RSFSR in Georgia S. Kirov On Hostile Actions by the Red Army on the Territory of Armenia and the Disputed Region of Karabakh July 13, 1920
Thirdly. Despite the agreement reached on July 2, your troops continue military operations in the areas of Armenian Karabakh and Zangezur, which undermines the very significance of the agreement concluded. I therefore urgently request that you issue orders to cease all hostile actions in the aforementioned regions and to withdraw your troops from the territory of Armenia and the disputed areas of Karabakh, which are to be addressed at the forthcoming Armenian-Azerbaijani conference.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ohandjanian AVPR, f. 148, op. 3, p. 2, d. 9, l. 28–28 verso. Telegraph form. (Emphasis added – Y.B.)
To the Plenipotentiary Representative of the RSFSR S. Kirov On the Advance of Azerbaijani Troops into Zangezur and Karabakh July 13, 1920
I take this opportunity to inform you that, according to new information I have received, the movements of Azerbaijani Soviet troops in the latter region* and its surroundings continue. This is causing great anxiety among the Armenian population and military forces, who cannot remain silent witnesses to these developments for long. Should they transition to active engagement, it threatens incalculable suffering for the working elements of both nations—Armenia and Azerbaijan. Preventing such events is the duty of all who wish to avoid them.
In reporting this to you, Mr. Representative, I trust you will not fail to exert the full weight of your influence on the Azerbaijani government to halt these attempts to penetrate Armenian territory—attempts that will be met with the most resolute and vigorous resistance from the troops and population of Armenia.
Diplomatic Representative Acting Administrator CGIA of Armenia, f. 278, op. 1, d. 38, l. 123 and verso. Certified copy. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, doc. No. 371.
To People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs G. Chicherin Proposing a Resolution to the Territorial Dispute Between the Republic of Armenia and Soviet Azerbaijan Baku, July 14, 1920 Marked: “Military, urgent, via special channel, through political controller.” “Ask who received it and have them report the time of transmission [illegible] affix tape.”
We consider it necessary to resolve the issue in a manner that may partially satisfy Azerbaijan: Karabakh is to be fully and unconditionally annexed to Azerbaijan; Zangezur is to be declared disputed; the remaining regions (Nakhichevan, Sharur, Daralaghez, Ordubad) are to remain with Armenia. HP 4/37 Ordzhonikidze, Legran RGASPI, f. 85, op. 13, d. 51, l. 1. Original.
On the Annexation of Karabakh to the Azerbaijan SSR as a Condition for Peace with Armenia Baku, July 15, 1920
Present: Comrades V. Yegorov, A. Mikoyan, A. Karaev, M. Guseynov, N. Narimanov, D. Buniatzade, Kasimov, V. Noneishvili, G. Ordzhonikidze, E. Stasova, representative of the Revolutionary Military Council of the 11th Army, representative in Armenia Legran.
Agenda: Peace with Armenia.
Resolved:
Member of the Central Committee Secretary PAAz. FIML, f. 1, op. 74, l. 46. Published in: Toward the Formation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, Baku, 1989, doc. S. 57. (Emphasis added – Y.B.)
To V. Lenin, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs G. Chicherin, and I. Stalin Proposing Not to Conclude Peace with Armenia Without the Participation of Soviet Azerbaijan and Reporting Turkish Requests to Permit Massacres of Armenians in Nakhichevan Baku, July 16, 1920 Via political controller. Please report time of delivery. To Moscow, Kremlin – Lenin, Chicherin, Stalin.
I consider it absolutely necessary to postpone peace with Armenia until the arrival of the Azerbaijani representative, who is traveling in response to Comrade Chicherin’s invitation. Peace with Armenia without Azerbaijan’s participation is causing serious agitation among comrades here.*
In the Nakhichevan region, a massacre between Armenians and Tatars is inevitable. This can only be prevented by our advance and occupation of the Nakhichevan district. We attempted at least a reconnaissance in that direction,* but the Commander-in-Chief, acting on a request from the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs, prohibited such movement.
Couriers from the Turkish division are besieging us, requesting permission to carry out the massacre. I repeat: the massacre is inevitable. We have sufficient forces for occupation. Request urgent instructions. HP 472 Ordzhonikidze
GARF, f. 130, op. 4, d. 496, l. 154. Original. (Emphasis added – Y.B.) *In a similar telegram from G. Ordzhonikidze preserved in his personal archive, the phrase “During my month-long absence, a significant shift toward nationalism has occurred” is crossed out. See RGASPI, f. 85, op. 14, d. 5, pp. 3–6. Autograph.
To the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan SSR Demanding Immediate Withdrawal of Azerbaijani Troops from Zangezur and Karabakh No. 4287 July 17, 1920
Contrary to the agreement of July 2 and your assertion that all shootings of Armenians by your troops have ceased, Armenian officers captured by your forces, which illegally invaded Karabakh and Zangezur, have been executed. Such an act constitutes a gross violation of international law and simultaneously undermines the significance of the agreement reached between the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
On behalf of my government, I express categorical protest against the unlawful actions of your troops and once again request that you take all necessary measures for the immediate withdrawal of your forces from Zangezur and the disputed areas of Karabakh. I also urge you to instruct your troops to strictly observe the July 2 agreement. Otherwise, my government will consider itself released from the obligations assumed under the aforementioned agreement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ohandjanian CGIA of Armenia, f. 200, op. 1, d. 581, l. 167. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, doc. No. 376. (Emphasis added – Y.B.)
To Member of the Caucasus Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(B) and the Revolutionary Military Council of the Caucasian Front G. Ordzhonikidze On the Position of the RSFSR’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs Regarding Territorial Disputes Between Armenia and the Azerbaijan SSR July 17, 1920
Chicherin strongly requests that Azerbaijani comrades moderate their claims in the Armenian question. He appears inclined to recognize Karabakh–Zangezur as disputed territories, and to cede Nakhichevan district and Ordubad to Armenia. Chicherin has repeatedly emphasized the need to resolve this issue promptly.
Please confirm receipt of this message. No. 560 Kirov RGASPI, f. 64, op. 1, d. 17, l. 297. Copy. (Emphasis added – Y.B.)
To the Plenipotentiary Representative in Georgia S. Kirov On Options for Resolving Territorial Disputes, Alignment Between the Commissariat and the Revolutionary Military Council Regarding the Occupation of Nakhichevan, Ordubad, and Julfa by the Red Army, and the Defense of Soviet Azerbaijan Against Armenian Dashnaks July 18, 1920
Please inform Legran: the telegrams containing the questions listed in his other message dated July 15 have not been received by us. That second telegram has only just arrived. We have also received another inquiry from Legran regarding negotiations with Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Tell him that if he succeeds in persuading the Armenian government to accept such a resolution, we will gladly welcome it. If the Armenians agree to immediately renounce all claims to Karabakh and recognize Zangezur as disputed, on the condition that Nakhichevan is acknowledged as theirs, we would be extremely pleased with such an outcome. It is Legran’s task to secure this in Erivan.
Ordzhonikidze is mistaken in believing that the previous restriction on our units advancing beyond already occupied areas into Armenia was imposed at the insistence of the Commissariat. This did not originate from us, but from the military.
From the very beginning, when the Commissariat began pressing through the Central Committee for the occupation of Karabakh, Zangezur, Nakhichevan, Ordubad, Julfa, and the Sharur-Daralaghez district, members of the Revolutionary Military Council expressed concern about insufficient forces. When Turkish units later appeared in Nakhichevan, it was the Revolutionary Military Council that categorically stated we could not occupy more than what had already been taken.
Now something has changed, and the Revolutionary Military Council agrees to our occupation of Nakhichevan, Ordubad, and Julfa, which the Commissariat has always considered highly desirable. The supposed opposition from the Commissariat is pure fiction.
Following the receipt of Ordzhonikidze’s telegrams on this matter, the Revolutionary Military Council, at the insistence of the Commissariat, has already issued orders specifying which units are to occupy Nakhichevan, Ordubad, and Julfa. Orders have also been given for our units to defend Azerbaijan against the Dashnaks.
We welcome anything that contributes to pacifying the region.
RGASPI, f. 5, op. 1, d. 2104, l. 2. Copy. (Emphasis added – Y.B.) 493
Yuri Barsegov “Nagorno-Karabakh in International Law and Global Politics”
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