Telegram from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

History

Telegram from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia To People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR G. Chicherin and Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars V. Lenin Yerevan, May 3, 1920

In light of the recent declaration of a Soviet government in Azerbaijan, and considering that many figures from the former Musavat government and their supporters continue to arrive in its territory, the new Azerbaijani government—potentially unaware of many facts—may inadvertently follow the policies of its predecessor. For the purpose of informing you and enabling you to issue appropriate instructions to representatives of Soviet Russia in Azerbaijan, I hereby report the following:

At the time of the formation of the three Transcaucasian republics, Armenian Karabakh and Zangezur—effectively cut off from their native center in Armenia due to Turkish invasions from all sides—managed under their national councils to resist enemy pressure until the end of the World War and preserve their integrity. Following the withdrawal of Turkish forces from the region, the populations of Karabakh and Zangezur, through numerous congresses of peasant deputies, issued a categorical resolution expressing their desire to join the Republic of Armenia.

However, the Musavat government of Azerbaijan, in defiance of the clearly expressed will of the people, launched multiple military campaigns against Armenian Karabakh and Zangezur with the aim of forcibly subjugating them. The Armenian government, wishing to avoid further bloodshed in the region, refrained from sending troops and proposed that the Musavat government maintain the status quo until a peaceful resolution could be reached at a special Armenian-Azerbaijani conference.

Under pressure from the British command in the Caucasus and facing the threat of massacre, the Karabakh National Council, surrounded by Azerbaijani artillery, was forced on August 22 of last year to enter into a temporary agreement with the Musavat government. Azerbaijan pledged not to deploy troops into Armenian Karabakh or disarm its population. Zangezur’s peasantry, after heroic resistance to the Azerbaijani beks’ government, retained full autonomy and continues to be governed by its own council.

Following repeated violations of the August 22 agreement, the Musavat government concentrated its regular and irregular forces and, on March 20 of this year, issued an ultimatum demanding the disarmament of Karabakh’s Armenian peasantry. Upon receiving a lawful refusal, it launched a simultaneous offensive on Karabakh and Zangezur, destroying villages and towns, massacring peaceful Armenian peasants—including women and children—who resisted desperately. These forces remain in place, threatening further advances into Armenian Karabakh.

Simultaneously, within its own territory, the Musavat government carried out massacres and destruction of numerous Armenian villages, subjecting the population to killings, rape, and forced labor in remote areas. These unfortunate peasants remain in such conditions to this day.

In the Elizavetpol district, the following Armenian villages were destroyed and their populations massacred: Karachinar, Yengikend, Manasbek, Upper and Lower Agdjakend, Paris, Erketch, Chaylu, and others. In the Shamakhi district: Ingard, Gyurdzhevan, Kochuldouz. In the Nukha district: Lower Vartashen, Jalut. In the Geokchay district: Girk Keshkard, Torishen, and Kelband. The few survivors who escaped to the mountains remain in dire conditions, facing the threat of complete annihilation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Source: Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 200, Inventory 1, File 271, Sheets 213–214. Typescript. Published in: Bulletin of the Archives of Armenia, 1989, No. 1, pp. 117–118.

Note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

To the Deputy People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan On the Absence of Armenian Troops in Azerbaijani Territory, the Immediate Withdrawal of Azerbaijani Forces from Nagorno-Karabakh, and the Need for Border Negotiations May 4, 1920

In response to your note dated April 30, received on May 1, I hereby convey the following on behalf of the Government of Armenia:

Regarding the first point — there have been no Armenian troops on Azerbaijani territory, nor are there any now. On the contrary, forces and armed bands organized by the Musavat government, which your administration has overthrown, remain in the regions of Armenian Karabakh and have recently committed massacres against the Armenian peasantry, burning the Armenian quarter of Shushi and numerous villages.

We fully concur with the position expressed in the note from the Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Caucasian Front, Ordzhonikidze, which was sent to us the same day following your appeal to Soviet Russia on the same matter. We affirm that all disputed border issues between Azerbaijan and Armenia must be resolved by the will of the working people. The peasantry of Karabakh has already expressed its unwavering desire to be part of the Republic of Armenia through eight congresses.

As for Zangezur, Azerbaijan has never exercised authority over this territory. Therefore, there are absolutely no legal or factual grounds to consider Zangezur part of Azerbaijan. Governed by its own council, Zangezur has always regarded itself as an inseparable part of the Republic of Armenia.

Regarding the second point — Armenian forces, as repeatedly stated by the government, have never crossed into neighboring republics, including Azerbaijan.

Regarding the third point — there is no interethnic violence in Armenia. Past clashes were provoked by uprisings of Muslim populations on Armenian territory, instigated by the Musavat government and Turkish emissaries. The Armenian government was compelled to take preventive measures against these external provocateurs.

In contrast, recent weeks have seen widespread massacres of Armenians across Azerbaijan, with dozens of Armenian villages burned.

Committed to the peaceful resolution of all disputes and firmly opposed to any military action, the Government of Armenia, in line with the above-mentioned opinion of the Soviet Russian representative and to prevent future clashes, proposes the following to your government:

  1. Immediate cessation of all military operations
  2. Initiation of negotiations with the Government of the Republic of Armenia to establish final borders and normalize relations between our two neighboring republics.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia A. Ogandzhanian Copies sent to V. Lenin, G. Chicherin, G. Ordzhonikidze Source: Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 200, Inventory 1, File 581, Sheets 30–31. Typescript.

Telegram Excerpt from Commander-in-Chief S. Kam

🧭 Excerpt from the Telegram of the Commander-in-Chief of the Republic, S. Kamenev, and the Chief of the Field Staff of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic

To the Command of the Caucasian Front On the Necessity of Defining the Border Between Azerbaijan and Armenia Through Interstate Agreement May 5, 1920

…As for the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, it must be established on the ground based on archival documents of the former Azerbaijani government. Until the border is defined through diplomatic means, it is necessary to adhere to the boundaries outlined in those documents, with detailed reporting on any corrections made…

Commander-in-Chief Kamenev On behalf of the Military Commissar Klim Field Staff of the Revolutionary Military Council: Lebedev Source: Russian State Military Archive (RGVA), Fund 109, Inventory 10, File 52, Sheet 36.

✉️ Letter from the Prime Minister of the Government of Armenia

To the Diplomatic Representative in Georgia On the Determination to Defend the Borders of the Republic, Including Karabakh No. 2800 — May 6, 1920

The government will resolutely defend the borders of independent Armenia against all enemies, particularly in light of the ongoing military actions against Azerbaijan in Karabakh. It is prepared to establish stronger ties with Georgia in this regard, and to jointly combat all internal anti-government forces. Begin negotiations with the Georgian government in this direction.

Prime Minister A. Ogandzhanian Source: Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 200, Inventory 1, File 221, Sheet 40. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 314.

📡 Telegram from the Committee for the Defense of the Peasantry of Nagorno-Karabakh

To the Shushi Revolutionary Committee and V. Lenin On the Continuation of the Former Turkish, Khan-Bey Anti-Armenian Policy by the New Azerbaijani Government May 6–7, 1920

On May 6, the provisional government of Karabakh received a communication from the Karabakh Revolutionary Committee, informing it of the Azerbaijani Republic’s adoption of Soviet power and the recognition of the independence of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan by Soviet Russia.

The Revolutionary Committee’s appeal for peace and an end to bloodshed is welcomed by the Armenian working peasantry, but it does not inspire genuine trust. There is no trust because the 360,000-strong peasantry of Karabakh is currently forced to remain in defensive positions. The Committee’s message arrives in Shushi at a time when the thunder of cannons and the crackle of machine guns continue to echo over peaceful Armenian villages. The perpetrators of these calamities remain unpunished; Sultanov, a representative of the former khan-bey government, mocks imprisoned women and children in Shushi, while Nuri Pasha, a leader of Turkish imperialism, prepares new disasters for the Armenian people in Jebrail.

We do not believe in the sincerity of the Revolutionary Committee’s proposal in Shushi.

For three years, the 360,000 Armenian peasants of Karabakh have waged a steadfast struggle against the reactionary forces of the Turkish and khan-bey Republic of Azerbaijan. They will continue this struggle with renewed vigor until the loyal sons of the Soviet Russian revolution reach the borders of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Should our response not be transmitted to the designated addresses—namely Moscow and Baku—the responsibility will lie with the members of the Revolutionary Committee in Shushi.

Committee for the Defense of the Peasantry of Nagorno-Karabakh Source: Party Archive of the Communist Party of Armenia, Fund 4033, Inventory 5, File 461, Sheet 164. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 315.

🤝 Proposal from the Deputy People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of Soviet Azerbaijan

To the Government of Armenia On Initiating Negotiations to Resolve All Disputed Issues Baku, May 9, 1920

…Although the working population of Armenia has not yet cast off the yoke of the Dashnak government, in order to avoid further bloodshed among the laboring masses, the Government of the Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic—having taken all necessary measures to immediately end violent clashes—proposes to the current Armenian government to enter into negotiations for the resolution of all disputed issues. To this end, it is requested that authorized representatives be sent to the city of Baku no later than May 15 of this year.

Deputy Commissar for Foreign Affairs Guseynov Source: Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 200, Inventory 1, File 581, Sheets 41 and reverse. Original. Typescript. Copies sent to Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars V. I. Lenin and People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs G. V. Chicherin.

🕊️ Telegram from Deputy People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR L. Karakhan

To G. Ordzhonikidze, Member of the Caucasian Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) and the Revolutionary Military Council of the Caucasian Front With Lenin’s Recommendation to Resolve Armenian-Azerbaijani Disputes Peacefully No later than May 11, 1920

We have received a copy of Azerbaijan’s note to Armenia containing an ultimatum. Ilyich has instructed us to inform you that we should not rush to expand our influence. First, we must consolidate Soviet power in Azerbaijan. Second, any expansion not driven by immediate necessity should be postponed due to serious tasks on the Western Front and the need for caution given our international position.

In truth, Armenia does not present an immediate strategic interest, yet it could bring considerable complications. We must avoid crossing the borders previously established with old Azerbaijan and refrain from occupying disputed territories through ultimatums. Instead, these issues should be resolved peacefully—perhaps through a joint commission of both states under our chairmanship.

You are more familiar with the complexity of relations, the dangers of renewed mutual massacres, and the Turkish factor. If our advance were to result in new mutual killings, it would seriously damage our standing in Britain and America. Therefore, we propose limiting our efforts to Azerbaijan.

Establish relations with Turkey and secure responsible and authorized representatives for negotiations with us.

Narimanov departed on the 28th. No. 114/Ш L. Karakhan Source: Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History (RGASPI), Fund 85, Inventory 14, File 29, Sheet 1. Archival copy from: RGASA, Fund 4, Inventory 1, File 158s, Sheet 169.

🪖 Order from the Command of the Caucasian Front

To the Command of the 11th Red Army On Occupying the Nakhichevan–Ordubad–Shusha Region to Prevent Interethnic Massacres Until the Border Issue Between Azerbaijan and Armenia Is Resolved by Agreement Between Their Governments Baku, May 11, 1920

I hereby order:

Second. In order to halt the Armenian-Muslim massacres in the Shusha and Zangezur regions, the left flank of the 11th Army is to advance into the Nakhichevan–Ordubad–Shusha area. Until the issue of the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia is resolved by a joint commission of both governments, strong garrisons must be maintained in the designated area to ensure order and prevent further interethnic violence.

Report upon receipt and execution of these orders.

Commander of the Caucasian Front – Smilga Chief of Staff of the Front – Pugachev Source: Russian State Military Archive (RGVA), Fund 6, Inventory 12, File 8, Sheet 8 reverse; Central State Archive of Armenia (CGASA), Fund 195, Inventory 3, File 199, Sheet 14. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 319.

📣 Protest from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

To the Government of Soviet Azerbaijan (Copies sent to V. Lenin and G. Chicherin) On the Continuation of Turkish Genocidal Policy Against Armenians and the Seizure of Armenian Territories Yerevan, May 12, 1920

In response to your radiogram dated May 8, I hereby convey the following:

The actions of your government against the Government of Armenia compel us to declare that the true nature of the Azerbaijani coup has been properly understood and assessed by the Armenian people and its government. This coup, which allegedly replaced the khan-bey Musavatist regime with a revolutionary socialist government, has in fact brought no substantive change to the political or state structure of Azerbaijan.

The very first act of this so-called socialist government was the attempt to forcibly subjugate the Armenian working peasantry of Karabakh and Zangezur to Azerbaijani authority, in direct contradiction to the clearly expressed will of the local population. The ultimatum sent to Armenia on the second day of your government’s rise to power was aggressive in nature and indistinguishable from similar notes issued by the former Musavatist regime.

Furthermore, credible information links your government to leaders of Turkish imperialism, including Mustafa Kemal—organizer of the Cilician massacres—and others such as Enver, Khalil, and Nuri Pasha, all of whom are implicated in the horrific slaughter of Armenians in Turkey and the Caucasus. Given these associations, the Government of Armenia cannot recognize the current Azerbaijani government as either democratic or socialist.

Your note refers to alleged violence against Muslims in Armenia, yet it omits the documented uprisings and attacks against Armenian peasants and troops in these regions—organized by Khan Tekinski, the diplomatic representative of the former Musavatist government, and others acting under Azerbaijani government directives in coordination with Turkish imperialists. My government possesses documentary evidence of this treacherous and conspiratorial activity, which is the true cause of the clashes that harmed both Armenian and Muslim populations.

You also fail to mention the well-known mass atrocities committed against peaceful Armenian civilians in Nukha, Arash, Elizavetpol, Shamakhi, Karabakh, and Gokhtan. Armenian girls and women remain imprisoned in Muslim harems under your government, and countless Armenian peasants continue to live as slaves, exploited as labor animals across your republic.

Nuri Pasha remains active in Jebrail, and Sultanov—the organizer of the Karabakh massacres—now holds power, adorned with a red ribbon.

Nevertheless, in the spirit of peace, my government accepts your proposal to initiate negotiations for resolving all disputed issues between our two republics…

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Source: Central State Historical Archive of Armenia, Fund 278, Inventory 1, File 35, Sheets 5–6. Certified copy. Typescript. Published in: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923, Yerevan, 1992, Document No. 319. 431

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

Artatsolum

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