History

NOTICE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRITISH MILITARY MISSION IN SHUSHI

NOTICE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BRITISH MILITARY MISSION IN SHUSHI TO THE GOVERNMENT OF AZERBAIJAN REGARDING THE MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS AND POGROMS IN SHUSHI AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES, AND THE COMPLICITY OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL Early June 1919

On June 3, Governor-General Dr. Sultanov established guard posts around Shushi. On June 4, Muslims and Armenians took positions along a line running through the city. Gunfire broke out and continued throughout the night. On June 5, the shooting persisted until 4 p.m., when it was halted through the efforts of the British Mission.

At 10 a.m., a massacre began in the village of Kaibalikend, located directly below Shushi and visible from Sultanov’s residence.

On June 6, Shushi remained calm, but the massacre in Kaibalikend continued. A raid on the village of Dashkend was stopped by Captain Gowans with the help of Kurdish and Russian officers. A group of Kurds was encountered, and upon being informed that the Governor-General had ordered them to retreat, they immediately complied. The village of Pahlul was burned. Its inhabitants fled, and livestock was seized. The village is located two versts from the headquarters of Azerbaijani forces in Khankendi, who remained inactive.

On June 7 at 7:30 a.m., Azerbaijani troops, escorted by British forces, passed through Shushi and occupied the barracks as agreed. The village of Kirkijan was burned. A silk-cleaning factory was destroyed by fire. The village is in close proximity to Khankendi. An attack on Dashkend was repelled by the local population. Two houses were burned.

Regarding the guard posts around Shushi, which triggered the clashes, Dr. Sultanov explained that on the morning of June 3, he established two posts overlooking the Armenian part of the city for the following reasons:

He was informed that 700 armed Armenians had entered Shushi.
He intended to arrest Armenian agitators.
He aimed to secure the barracks for Azerbaijani troops.
He had intelligence that Armenians had occupied trenches above the city.
He was told that large armed Armenian forces were preparing to enter the city.
He wished to prevent possible incidents related to nomadic movements.

Dr. Sultanov should have consulted with Major Monk-Masson and secured his cooperation. Had he done so, the massacre might have been prevented.

On June 5 at 6 p.m., the Mission informed Sultanov of the situation and urged him to take action. Sultanov told Colonel Clutterbuck on the evening of June 7 that he had dispatched a patrol, which upon return reported that the village had already been burned.

Meanwhile, on June 6, Captain Gowans attempted to approach the village while fighting was still ongoing. His epaulette was struck. He heard moans and cries but was unable to provide assistance. For this, Sultanov must be held accountable before the Azerbaijani government.

The massacre in Kaibalikend was carried out by Kurds who had traveled two days from the village. Sultanov claims they came to loot Shushi. Hostilities in Shushi began on June 4, and the Kurds attacked the village on June 5.

Colonel Clutterbuck reported that out of 700 people, only 11 men and 87 women and children survived. More survivors may be found, but in any case, Sultanov must be held responsible for the massacre.

The attack on Dashkend was halted by Captain Gowans, who made a statement on behalf of the Governor-General. The fact that Sultanov himself is Kurdish complicates his position in Shushi.

Looted property was brought to Shushi. Captain Gowans witnessed this.
The destruction of the villages of Pahlul and Kirkijan should have been prevented by the officer commanding in Khankendi. He must answer to the Governor-General for this.

📜 Report from the Representative of Armenia to the British Mission in Shushi

To the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia June 1, 1919

In addition to my report dated May 27, I have the honor to inform you that during a search conducted at Aghstafa Station by the Vice-Governor of Karabakh, Mr. Sultanov, the following items were confiscated from us:

Documents from the Armenian Karabakh referendum expressing refusal to recognize Azerbaijani authority (approximately 45,000 signatures).
Records approved by the British Mission in Shushi detailing the losses suffered by Armenians in Karabakh due to the actions of Turkish-Azerbaijani forces during the World War (around 25 booklets).
[Omitted in original]
Official documents from the British General Headquarters and the British Mission regarding Armenia’s recognition of Azerbaijani authority in Karabakh and Zangezur.
[Omitted in original]

Representative of the Armenian Government M. Arzumanov

⚔️ Appeal from the Head of Defense of Armenian Karabakh

To the Armenian Authorities of Zangezur Shushi, June 5, 1919

On June 2, the British Mission summoned 7–8 Armenian intellectuals, including members of the National Council, and compelled them to sign a pledge not to engage in any political activities. That same day, Tatar forces deployed two machine guns with heavy guard two versts from Shushi along the Shushi–Geryusin road near the “Yarma” hill, effectively sealing off all western and eastern approaches to the city and taking control of all routes.

On the same day, they relocated the treasury and post office from the Armenian part of the city. Alarmed, the population repeatedly appealed to the British Mission to lift the blockade. Each time, the Mission reassured the people, claiming there was no danger. Nevertheless, on June 4, the Tatars launched an assault on the Armenian quarter. Armenians resisted and repelled them.

The British Mission then intervened, occupied Armenian positions with its Indian troops, and issued an ultimatum: within three days, those who had signed the pledge on June 2 must leave Karabakh, or Sultanov would seize the city by force.

The National Council’s policy was non-aggressive; on the contrary, it sought to avoid conflict in the city and therefore took no special defensive measures. The city has few forces. Due to the blockade, food supplies are depleted, and the situation for Armenians is critical and desperate.

The district is sending reinforcements and has surrounded the city in turn, but hesitates to attack, fearing a massacre. Sultanov’s and the British Mission’s intentions regarding the district remain unclear.

These clashes are disastrous for the peasantry: it is the season for fieldwork, and if the harvest is not gathered, famine will follow next year. There is sufficient manpower, but no ammunition or funds.

Karabakh’s fate is being decided now. It has rendered great service to the Armenian people, and we cannot bear the thought of it being torn apart by Sultanov’s savage hordes before the eyes of the rest of Armenia.

We urgently request financial and military aid. Furthermore, it is possible that once the city is subdued, Sultanov will launch a campaign across all of Karabakh. These are historic days for Karabakh—please do not abandon it to its fate.

Head of Defense of Armenian Karabakh Captain Vartanyan

📨 Message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

To the Prime Minister Tiflis, June 7, 1919

Recent arrivals from Shushi report that Governor-General Sultanov has initiated military encirclement and troop movements in the surrounding areas, with Azerbaijani units occupying strategic positions and posts. This has created a tense and alarming atmosphere.

On June 2, a large public gathering appealed to Major Monk-Masson, who reassured them that as long as the British were present, Armenians were not in danger, and that Sultanov’s provocations would not go unpunished. Nevertheless, Sultanov continued his military operations. On June 4, Tatar forces seized unoccupied Armenian trenches and positions, opened fire on Armenians, and killed several individuals. Skirmishes continued into June 5.

Repeated appeals to Monk-Masson yielded no results. The British officer Towson, sent by Monk-Masson to negotiate with Sultanov, was not even received. Telegrams from Monk-Masson addressed to Baku and Tiflis were rejected by the Tatars.

Sultanov and the Azerbaijani mission demanded the expulsion of seven Armenians from Azerbaijani territory as a condition for halting hostilities. A sepoy detachment, dispatched by Monk-Masson to neutralize the trenches, entered the Armenian positions without resistance but was met with gunfire from the Tatar trenches, resulting in two fatalities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tigranyan June 7, 1919

🕊️ Appeal from the Armenian Assembly of Tiflis

To the Missions of the Allied Powers June 8, 1919

A mass rally of Armenians in Tiflis, held on June 8, 1919, discussed the alarming situation in Karabakh caused by the armed assault of Azerbaijani forces on the peaceful Armenian population of Shushi. Recognizing that Azerbaijan, through such hostile acts, seeks to seize Armenian Karabakh and thereby subject its people to ongoing violence and bloodshed, the assembly resolved to appeal to the missions of the Allied Powers:

Take urgent and decisive measures to end the bloodshed in Karabakh and ensure the physical survival of the Armenian population against the looming threats.
In order to permanently end all forms of violence by the Azerbaijani government in Karabakh, declare Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh outside the jurisdiction of Azerbaijan until the matter is resolved at the Paris Peace Conference.
Remove the known Turkish agent and Azerbaijani Governor-General Sultanov, along with all Azerbaijani military forces, from Armenian Karabakh, as they pose a constant threat to the region’s peace and order.

The rally entrusted the leadership of the Karabakh and Zangezur compatriot unions with presenting this resolution to the missions of the Allied Powers. 322

Yuri Barsegov “Nagorno-Karabakh in International Law and Global Politics”