THE ANNEXATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH BY AZERBAIJAN

THE ANNEXATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH BY AZERBAIJAN UNDER THE GUISE OF SELF-DETERMINATION OF THE ARMENIANS OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH AND IN VIOLATION OF THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF THE ARMENIAN SSR.

State Policy No. 677

From the minutes of the meeting of the Commission on the Determination of Internal Borders between the Transcaucasian Republics: The Question of the Armenian–Azerbaijani Border

Tiflis, June 25, 1921

Present: Chairman of the Commission, Comrade Kirov; Representatives of the Georgian SSR – Comrades A. Svanidze, P. Todria; Representatives of the Azerbaijani SSR – Comrades M. D. Huseynov, Gadzhinsky, Rasul-Zade, Omar-Faik; Representative of the Armenian SSR – Comrade A. Bekzadyan.

Comrade Bekzadyan was given the floor. He declared that, following the conclusion of the Moscow Treaty, the situation of Armenia must be regarded as exceptionally grave, since it had lost nearly half of its territory together with all its principal economic resources – the richest salt mines, coal deposits, and forest-pasture regions of Kars, Sarykamysh, Olty, Kagyzman, Kulp, and Iğdır. Moreover, the number of refugees as a result of the recent war had reached 410,000, who must be resettled, provided with land, and returned to peaceful labor. Such a condition of the country must undoubtedly be recognized as not merely difficult but critical. At present, lacking sufficient territory and deprived of forest and other reserves – the chief source of state revenue – Armenia cannot exist as a politically independent unit. In view of these circumstances, Comrade Bekzadyan deemed it urgently necessary to carry out territorial adjustments in favor of Armenia at the expense of neighboring republics, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

During the meeting of Comrades Myasnikov and Bekzadyan in Moscow with Comrade Stalin, this viewpoint was fully shared by the latter.

[…]

The Armenian delegation then proposed, on the basis of its principal considerations, to establish the following line of demarcation with the Azerbaijani SSR: beginning at the point where the river flowing through the village of Kerpili intersects the borders of the Kazakh and Borchaly districts near the springs, and proceeding along the natural boundaries of the lands of the rural communities of Baranin, Kotkend, Aksibar, Karadash, Uzuntal, Tatlin, Tauzkalin, Kulalin, Azapin, Badakend, Frezov, Chardakhli, Bayan, Mikhailov, Kasapet, Kabarda–Boy–Ahmedli, Khanazad, Pirdzhanin, Yenikend, Kacharzin, Kadjar, Edipin, Hadrut, Arakgel, up to the district border of Zangezur, from where it descends to the Araks River, and then along the Araks to the border of the Nakhichevan district of the Erivan province.

Comrade Kirov likewise found that, for political reasons, there could be no question at present of territorial adjustments; therefore, as with the issue of the Akhalkalak district, the current proposal of the Armenian delegation was entirely withdrawn. In the Kazakh district the “status quo” was maintained, while the question of Nagorno-Karabakh was taken up. Comrade Huseynov declared that he had never heard of Nagorno-Karabakh being assigned to Armenia, and upon leaving Baku for the conference had received no instructions on this matter. Personally, being in favor of the just transfer of Nagorno-Karabakh – which had repeatedly been the arena of interethnic strife inflamed by chauvinists – he nevertheless, as head of the Azerbaijani SSR delegation, requested that the Commission postpone resolution of this issue until the following day, promising to obtain by telegraph the necessary instructions and authority from Baku that evening. The proposal was accepted. The next session was scheduled for June 26.

Tiflis, June 26, 1921

Present: Comrades Ordzhonikidze, Orakhelashvili, Kirov, Eliava, Bekzadyan, Svanidze, Todria, Huseynov, Gadzhinsky, Omar-Faik, Rasul-Zade.

[…]

The question of delimiting Azerbaijan and Armenia was then examined. In the Kazakh district the old arrangement was retained; as for Karabakh, owing to Comrade Huseynov’s failure to receive a reply from Baku, the matter remained unresolved. […] Since Comrade Kirov had entirely withdrawn the question of territorial adjustments, and the work of the Commission was confined solely to correcting – or rather leveling – existing borders, Comrade Bekzadyan made a concrete proposal: to terminate the work of the Commission and transfer all border questions to the forthcoming Transcaucasian Conference. The proposal was not accepted. […] The next session was scheduled for the evening, but owing to the absence of the Azerbaijani representatives the meeting was postponed to June 27.

Tiflis, June 27, 1921

Present: Comrades Kirov, Bekzadyan, Svanidze, Huseynov, Todria, Rasul-Zade, Omar-Faik.

[…]

A draft resolution prepared by the Georgian delegation on the question of a neutral zone was then read. It appeared that the Georgians had included within the area designated for referendum an indisputable part of Armenian territory (Jalal-Ogly–Gerger, etc.), while at the same time, for alleged political reasons and the demands of the moment, they had entirely excluded the question of Akhalkalak. Despite the vehement protests of the Armenian delegation, the Georgians continued categorically to insist upon the expediency of their demands, basing them on the claim that the said indisputable district had once been seized by the Mensheviks (which in fact had been the principal cause of the recent uprising in Lori) and, being part of the Tiflis province, was indisputably Georgian territory. To this the Armenian delegation was compelled to react sharply, and, refusing to conduct further negotiations in such an atmosphere, referred the disputed questions to the Caucasian Bureau for resolution. The session was adjourned.

Secretary of the Representative of the Armenian SSR V. Muradyan

Central State Archive of the Armenian SSR, fond 128, inventory 1, file 674, folios 15–17. Original. Typescript. Published in the collection: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923. Yerevan, 1992, No. 444. (Emphasis ours – Yu.B.).

The question of the Armenian–Azerbaijani border was not considered. – Yu.B.

TELEGRAM OF G. ORDZHONIKIDZE AND S. KIROV

TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS OF THE AZERBAIJANI SSR ON THE NECESSITY OF A FINAL RESOLUTION OF THE QUESTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Tiflis, June 26, 1921

An interruption of negotiations on the establishment of the border with Armenia, given the current situation in Zangezur, would produce an extremely unfavorable impression. Therefore, Huseynov’s departure has been delayed until June 27. We request that the Politburo and the Council of People’s Commissars be urgently convened to resolve the question of Karabakh, so that tomorrow, June 27, the negotiations may be concluded.

If our opinion is sought, it is as follows: in the interests of finally settling all frictions and establishing genuinely friendly relations, the resolution of the question of Nagorno-Karabakh must be guided by the principle that no Armenian village should be annexed to Azerbaijan, just as no Muslim village should be annexed to Armenia.

TsPA IML, fond 85, inventory 18, file 229, folios 1–2 verso. Autograph. Published in the collection: Nagorno-Karabakh in 1918–1923. Yerevan, 1992, No. 445. (Emphasis ours – Yu.B.). Text of the telegram – autograph of S. M. Kirov.

No. 679

MINUTES OF THE JOINT SESSION OF THE POLITBURO AND ORGBURO OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE AZERBAIJANI COMMUNIST PARTY ON THE QUESTION OF THE BORDERS OF AZERBAIJAN WITH ARMENIA

No. 20, June 27, 1921

Heard: The question of Azerbaijan’s borders with Armenia in connection with the work of the Commission in Tiflis.

Resolved:

1. In general, the question of Nagorno-Karabakh as posed by Comrade Bekzadyan is deemed unacceptable by the Politburo and Orgburo, owing to the undeniable economic orientation of Nagorno-Karabakh toward Azerbaijan, in which sense the question must be resolved.
2. Therefore, the proposal to separate localities with Armenian and Turkic populations respectively to Armenia and Azerbaijan, from the standpoint of administrative and economic expediency, is likewise considered unacceptable.
3. The only resolution of the question can be the broad involvement of Armenian and Muslim masses in the work of Soviet construction (as follows from Comrade Narimanov’s declaration).
4. The question of further procedure and discussion of this matter is to remain open until information is received from Tiflis.
5. Comrade Narimanov is entrusted with conveying in Tiflis the opinion of the Orgburo and Politburo.

TsPA IML, fond 64, inventory 2, file 117, folios 41–42. Certified copy. Typescript. Published in the journal: Vestnik Arkhivov Armenii, 1989, No. 2, doc. No. 9, p. 73. (Emphasis ours – Yu.B.).

No. 680

FROM THE RECORD OF A DIRECT TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN MEMBER OF THE CAUCASIAN BUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(B) SHIRVANI AND SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF AZERBAIJAN HUSEYNOV, REGARDING THE REFUSAL OF THE POLITBURO AND ORGBURO OF THE AZERBAIJANI COMMUNIST PARTY TO RESOLVE THE DISPUTED QUESTION ON THE BASIS OF THE WILL OF THE POPULATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH, IN FAVOR OF “ECONOMIC ORIENTATION” TOWARD BAKU

June 27, 1921

At the apparatus of Shirvani. Comrade Narimanov is at a session of the Politburo, where the question of Nagorno-Karabakh was raised. I transmit to you the text of the resolution:

“1) In general, the question of Nagorno-Karabakh as posed by Comrade Bekzadyan is deemed unacceptable by the Politburo and Orgburo of the Central Committee of the RCP, owing to the undeniable economic orientation of Nagorno-Karabakh toward Azerbaijan, in which sense the question must be resolved.

2. Therefore, the proposal to assign localities with Armenian and Turkic* populations respectively to Armenia and Azerbaijan** from the standpoint of administrative and economic expediency is likewise considered unacceptable.
3. The only resolution of the question can be the broad involvement of Armenian and Muslim masses in the work of Soviet construction, as follows from Comrade Narimanov’s report.
4. The question of further procedure and discussion of this matter is to remain open until information is received from Tiflis.
5. Comrade Narimanov is entrusted with conveying in Tiflis the opinion of the Politburo and Orgburo.”

This resolution of the Politburo and Orgburo was adopted today at 4 p.m. The Council of People’s Commissars also joins this resolution. Comrade Narimanov requested that it be conveyed that the question must be resolved only on this basis; otherwise the Council of People’s Commissars withdraws responsibility, for if Soviet Armenia by this act seeks to produce a certain impression upon the Dashnaks and the non-party masses of Armenia, one must not forget the circumstance*** that thereby we reconstitute in Azerbaijan the same anti-Soviet groups as the Dashnaks. Incidentally, Comrade Narimanov has arrived and will continue negotiations. State that this is the opinion of the Politburo and Orgburo.

If reference is made to the latest declaration, then in that declaration it is literally stated as follows: Nagorno-Karabakh is granted the right of free self-determination. Very well. I shall transmit everything. By the way, I inform you of the relations between the Georgians and Armenians. Their question of the neutral zone is proceeding with great difficulty. Apparently, without the intervention of the Caucasian Bureau the matter will not be resolved. I am leaving today. I shall report details later. In any case, I state that our decision will undoubtedly be received very favorably. Yesterday I spoke with Comrade Sergo, who said directly that the Karabakh question is a matter of honor for all Soviet republics, and it must be resolved precisely in the sense that it be the last time – that is, in the form I conveyed to you yesterday. I think that insofar as there is a resolution of our Central Committee, the question is placed upon a definite plane****. What will follow remains to be seen.

Today a telegram has been sent in your name, with copies to Sergo, Myasnikov, and Karaev, concerning the recall from Karabakh of Comrade Mravyan. If you depart today, this means that the question remains open for the time being. Following your latest statements it was decided that the question remains in any case open, especially now, because sitting here I can do nothing. I think that upon arriving in Baku I shall make a detailed report, and together we shall discuss the situation that has arisen. In any case, you yourself see that in one way or another a heavy atmosphere has been created, from which a way out must be found…

I considered that above all we must explain the question in detail, because, on the one hand, the Council of People’s Commissars of Armenia makes one declaration and sends its extraordinary commissioner to Karabakh, so to speak, without our knowledge and consent, while on the other hand we send them a telegram almost annulling their decision. I do not know how to proceed. I think there is no other way out. Of course, I shall now consult with Comrade Sergo and before departure inform you once more. Convey to Sergo that if he acquaints himself with the material we now possess, he himself will be against this. All this material you will take to Tiflis, and then it will be clear that our Armenian comrades think exclusively of territory, and not of the welfare of the poorest Armenian and Muslim population and the strengthening of the revolution. I have nothing further. […]

RGASPI, fond 64, inventory 1, file 31, folios 86, 86 verso; TsPA IML, fond 85, inventory 13, file 66, folio 1. Certified copy. Typescript. Published in: Vestnik Arkhivov Armenii, 1989, No. 2, doc. No. 10, pp. 73–75; in the book On the History of the Formation of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of the Azerbaijani SSR. Documents and Materials. Baku, 1989, pp. 88–90.

• As in the text. ** As in the text. Apparently a word is omitted in the document. *** As in the text. **** As in the text.

MINUTES OF THE SESSION OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE CAUCASIAN BUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(B)

ON THE CONVENING OF AN EXTRAORDINARY PLENUM OF THE CAUCASIAN BUREAU ON THE QUESTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH No. 5, June 27, 1921

Present: Comrades Ordzhonikidze, Kirov, Figatner. Heard: Negotiations of Comrade Huseynov with Comrade Narimanov on the question of Nagorno-Karabakh. Resolved: To convene an extraordinary plenum of the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP(B) and to send the following telegram to Comrades Narimanov and Myasnikov:

“The Presidium of the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP(B) proposes that upon receipt of this message you immediately depart for the extraordinary session of the plenum of the Caucasian Bureau. On the agenda is the question of delimiting the republics. Six members of the Caucasian Bureau are presently in Tiflis. In the event of your non-arrival, the decision of the six members in Tiflis will be considered binding. Therefore, we insist upon your immediate arrival.”

TsPA IML, fond 17, inventory 13, file 384, folio 26. Certified copy. Typescript. Published in Vestnik Arkhivov Armenii, 1989, No. 2, doc. No. 11, pp. 75–76.

TELEGRAM OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS OF THE AZERBAIJANI SSR, N. NARIMANOV, TO G. ORDZHONIKIDZE

ON THE RECALL OF THE ARMENIAN COMMISSIONER FROM KARABAKH June 27, 1921

In view of many weighty political considerations connected with the existence of the Karabakh front, and inasmuch as the question of Nagorno-Karabakh has been decided only by the Revolutionary Committee of Armenia, while it has not yet been considered and is not being considered by the Council of People’s Commissars, the Azerbaijani Council of People’s Commissars unanimously finds the appearance of Comrade Mravyan as Extraordinary Commissioner of Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh to be a grave political and tactical error. On this basis, the Azerbaijani Council of People’s Commissars requests the immediate recall of Comrade Mravyan.

Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Azerbaijani SSR Narimanov

TsPA IML, fond 85, inventory 13, file 98, folio 1. Telegraph form. Published in Vestnik Arkhivov Armenii, 1989, No. 2, doc. No. 12, p. 76. Copies of the telegram were sent to the Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the Armenian SSR, Myasnikyan; to the Extraordinary Commissioner of Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh, Mravyan; and to the People’s Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs of the Azerbaijani SSR, Karaev.

FROM THE TELEGRAM OF THE COMMISSAR OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GRAND NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF TURKEY, YUSUF KEMAL, TO THE PEOPLE’S COMMISSAR OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE AZERBAIJANI SSR, M. HUSEYNOV,

ON MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN MUTUAL SUPPORT BETWEEN SOVIET AZERBAIJAN AND TURKEY July 1, 1921

For the resolution of all questions existing between the fraternal Azerbaijani Republic and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, for the regulation and establishment of relations, and finally for the discussion by both sides of such matters as mutual guarantees in issues relating to Azerbaijan and touched upon in the Moscow Treaty concluded between Turkey and Russia, I, as you already know from the conversation in Baku with our delegation, request that you appoint your delegates to the conference.

MID USSR. Documents of Soviet Foreign Policy. Moscow: Gospolitizdat, 1960, Vol. IV, p. 228.

MINUTES OF THE SESSION OF THE PLENUM OF THE CAUCASIAN BUREAU OF THE CC RCP(B)

AND RESOLUTION ON THE INCLUSION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH IN THE ARMENIAN SSR AND ON REFERRING THE QUESTION FOR FINAL DECISION TO THE CC RCP(B) No. 11, July 4, 1921

Present: Member of the CC RCP Stalin; members of the Caucasian Bureau – Comrades Ordzhonikidze, Makharadze, Narimanov, Myasnikov, Kirov, Nazaretyan, Orakhelashvili, Figatner. Secretary of the Caucasian Bureau of the Komsomol – Breitman. Members of the CC of Georgia – Comrades Tsintsadze, Mdivani, Svanidze.

Heard: … 5. The Karabakh question.

In the discussion of this question two viewpoints emerged, and the following were put to the vote:

a) To leave Karabakh within Azerbaijan. Votes in favor: Narimanov, Makharadze, Nazaretyan. Against: Ordzhonikidze, Myasnikov, Kirov, Figatner.

b) To hold a plebiscite throughout Karabakh with the participation of the entire population, both Armenians and Muslims. Votes in favor: Narimanov, Makharadze.

c) To include the mountainous part of Karabakh within Armenia. Votes in favor: Ordzhonikidze, Myasnikov, Figatner, Kirov.

d) To hold a plebiscite only in Nagorno-Karabakh, i.e., among Armenians. Votes in favor: Ordzhonikidze, Myasnikov, Figatner, Kirov, Nazaretyan.

Resolved: To include Nagorno-Karabakh within the Armenian SSR, and to hold a plebiscite only in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Heard: 6. Statement of Comrade Narimanov: “In view of the importance which the Karabakh question holds for Azerbaijan, I consider it necessary to transfer its final resolution to the CC RCP.”

Resolved: In view of the serious disagreement caused by the Karabakh question, the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP considers it necessary to transfer it for final resolution to the CC RCP.

At the vote on the Karabakh question, Comrade Orakhelashvili was absent.

Secretary of the Caucasian Bureau Figatner

TsPA IML, fond 64, inventory 2, file 1, folio 118; fond 85, inventory 18, file 58, folio 17. Copy. Typescript. Published in Vestnik Arkhivov Armenii, 1989, No. 2, doc. No. 13, pp. 76–77.

FROM THE MINUTES OF THE SESSION OF THE PLENUM OF THE CAUCASIAN BUREAU OF THE CC RCP(B)

ON THE REVIEW OF THE DECISION OF THE PREVIOUS PLENUM AND ON LEAVING NAGORNO-KARABAKH WITHIN THE AZERBAIJANI SSR WITH THE GRANTING OF BROAD REGIONAL AUTONOMY July 5, 1921

Present: Member of the CC RCP Stalin; members of the Caucasian Bureau – Comrades Ordzhonikidze, Makharadze, Kirov, Nazaretyan, Orakhelashvili, Figatner, Narimanov, Myasnikov; People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijani SSR Huseynov.

Heard – Resolved:

1. Comrades Ordzhonikidze and Nazaretyan raise the question of revising the resolution of the previous plenum on Karabakh.

Proceeding from the necessity of national peace between Muslims and Armenians, and from the economic ties of Upper and Lower Karabakh, its permanent connection with Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh is to remain within the Azerbaijani SSR, being granted broad regional autonomy with its administrative center in the city of Shusha, included within the autonomous region.

b) To entrust the CC of Azerbaijan with defining the boundaries of the autonomous region and presenting them for approval to the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP. c) To entrust the Presidium of the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP with negotiating with the CC of Armenia and the CC of Azerbaijan on the candidate for Extraordinary Commissioner of Nagorno-Karabakh. d) The scope of autonomy of Nagorno-Karabakh is to be defined by the CC of Azerbaijan and presented for approval to the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP.

Secretary of the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP Figatner

RGASPI, fond 64, inventory 1, file 1, folio 124. Certified copy; TsPA IML, fond 17, inventory 13, file 384, folio 67.

MINUTES OF THE SESSION OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF ARMENIA

ON THE ACT OF CAPITULATION OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THE ARMENIAN COMMUNISTS July 16, 1921

Heard: … 10. The decision of the Caucasian Bureau on Karabakh. Resolved: a) The question shall not be brought again for reconsideration by the Caucasian Bureau. b) The resolution of the Karabakh question does not satisfy us; at the next session, a concrete and fully developed proposal on the content of autonomy must be presented.

PAAF IML, fond 1, inventory 1, file 39, folio 18 verso. Original. Typescript. Published in Vestnik Arkhivov Armenii, 1989, No. 2, doc. No. 15, p. 77. (Emphasis ours – Yu.B.).

FROM THE MINUTES OF THE SESSION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS OF SOVIETS OF THE 2ND DISTRICT OF SHUSHI COUNTY

ON THE KARABAKH QUESTION Kendkhurd, August 1, 1921

The session was opened by the chairman of the 11th district executive committee, Comrade M. Danielyan. The following agenda was adopted: […]

3. The Karabakh question. […]

The congress proceeded to discussion of the Karabakh question. Comrade L. Mirzoyan reported. He declared that the question was not being raised for official consideration, but rather to acquaint himself with the opinion of the peasantry. The comrade argued that from the economic, spiritual, political, and national points of view, Karabakh was closely connected with the center of Azerbaijan, the city of Baku. These factors already predetermined to which political entity Karabakh should belong. Without denying the possibility of national oppression of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh, which under certain conditions might be a temporary phenomenon, the comrade found entirely correct and expedient the resolution of the Transcaucasian Committee to create in the mountainous part a special administrative and fully autonomous unit directly subordinated to the center in Baku. He considered this measure sufficient to eliminate any possibility of national oppression and to create conditions for the cultural development of the population of the mountainous part.

Many delegates declared that they could not speak on this question on behalf of the population and proposed that the matter be discussed preliminarily in the villages. They also noted the abnormal conditions of life and work and the special treatment of the population in the mountainous part.

Delegate Petrosyan stated that in fact none of the delegates wished to speak, although it was well known that the peasantry desired to be joined to Soviet Armenia. After further explanations by Comrade Mirzoyan, the congress proceeded to discussion of current matters…

OGA NKAO, fond 485, inventory 1, file 14, pp. 66–68. (Emphasis ours – Yu.B.).

LETTER OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARS OF THE AZERBAIJANI SSR, L. MIRZOYAN,

TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE CP(B) ON MEASURES TO NORMALIZE THE SITUATION IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH August 8, 1921

For the normalization of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a number of concrete measures are envisaged, among them: to separate the entire Nagorno-Karabakh into an independent administrative unit, subordinated to the Center – the Council of People’s Commissars and the Azerbaijani Central Executive Committee, and in party matters – to the CC of the Azerbaijani CP(B).

PAAzF IML, fond 1, inventory 74, file 123, folios 109–110. Copy sent to the Caucasian Bureau of the CC RCP(B).

FROM THE REPORT OF THE INFORMATION-STATISTICAL SUBSECTION OF THE CC CP(B) OF AZERBAIJAN

ON THE AUTONOMY OF KARABAKH UNDER AZERBAIJANI PROTECTORATE [Not later than October 1] 1921

On June 28, 1921, a congress of executive committees of the 1st Khankendi district was convened by Comrade Karaev and Comrade L. Mirzoyan, who had arrived from Baku. On the agenda of the congress stood the question of “a measure of wheat” for the Baku workers. Approximately 60 persons attended. The question of “a measure of wheat” was pushed into the background; the first item on the agenda was Nagorno-Karabakh.

Comrade Karaev, explaining the economic dependence of Nagorno-Karabakh upon Lowland Karabakh, proposed that those assembled express their opinion on the allegedly resolved question of autonomous Karabakh under Azerbaijani protectorate.

Those assembled at the congress noted that they had gathered not to discuss this question, and that they could not express an opinion, nor were they authorized to speak on behalf of their district. Comrade L. Mirzoyan defended even more ardently the autonomy of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan and pressed even more strongly for the adoption of a written resolution on this matter in favor of Azerbaijan.

But their efforts met only with cold resistance from those assembled. In this way they sought somehow to obtain a document in which the population of Mountainous Karabakh would agree to autonomous Karabakh within Azerbaijan. Executive committees of the 1st district were convened with the aim of securing the desired consent, and likewise in other districts separately.

The situation is critical; we request measures for the annexation of Nagorno-Karabakh to Soviet Armenia.

TsGAORSS Armenia, fond 113, inventory 3, file 7, folios 40–41. Original. Manuscript. (Emphasis ours – Yu.B.). 690

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

Artatsolum

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• “The Caucasian Word” on the Confirmation by a British Command Representative
• Letter from the Acting Governor-General of Karabakh
• OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION IN THE CAUCASUS
• Proclamation of the Zangezur Armenian National Council
• Telegram from the Prime Minister of Armenia to the British High Commissioner
• MESSAGE TO THE DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVE
• Photographic Evidence of the Annihilation of Shushi’s Thirty-Thousand Strong Armenian Population
• Appeal of the Karabakh Soldiers and Officers of the Armenian Army
• Territorial Dispute Between the Azerbaijan SSR (as part of the RSFSR) and the Republic of Armenia
• Telegram from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
• Telegram from G. Ordzhonikidze to V. Lenin, I. Stalin, and G. Chicherin
• LETTER FROM MEMBERS OF THE CAUCASIAN BUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(B): A. AVANESOV, R. KATANYAN, AND AYKUNI
• Report of the Karabakh Community Delegation of Tiflis
• From the Report of People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR
• Letter from the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR, G. Chicherin, to V. Lenin
• EXCERPT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE POLITBURO
• LETTER FROM MEMBERS OF THE CAUCASUS BUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(B)
• LETTER FROM MEMBERS OF THE CAUCASUS BUREAU OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE RCP(B) 11TH RED ARMY
• Telegram from the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR, G. Chicherin
• Appeal from the Commander of the Armenian Expeditionary Detachment
• TELEGRAM OF THE PLENIPOTENTIARY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RSFSRIN ARMENIA B. LEGRAND
• Letter from Armenian Foreign Minister A. Ohandjanian to the Head of the French Military Mission
• Telegram from Member of the Caucasian Bureau of the Central Committee
• Telegram from Member of the Caucasian Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP(b)
• First Addendum to the Draft Peace Treaty between the RSFSR and the Republic of Armenia
• Telegram via Direct Line from RVS Member of the Caucasian Front V. Trifonov
• THE ATTITUDE OF THE ALLIED HIGH COMMISSIONER IN ARMENIA, COLONEL GASKELL, TOWARDS THE ARBITRARILY ESTABLISHED BORDERS OF THE TRANSCAUCASIAN STATES
• The Question of Armenia’s Borders at the First (Preliminary) Conference of the Allied Powers in London
• 🇺🇸 U.S. SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 359
• LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF THE DELEGATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA REGARDING THE AGGRESSION OF BOLSHEVIK RUSSIA, SOVIET AZERBAIJAN, AND KEMALIST TURKEY
• DISCUSSION ON THE PROTECTION OF ARMENIA FROM AGGRESSION AND THE THREAT OF EXTERMINATION OF THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE
• Telegram from the Council of the League of Nations to the President of the United States
• Telegram from Lloyd George (sent via Curzon)
• SOVIETIZATION OF ARMENIA
• Letter from the People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR, G. Chicherin, to V. Lenin on the Danger of Kemalist Realignment with the Entente
• LETTER FROM THE PLENIPOTENTIARY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AZERBAIJAN SSR TO THE RSFSR
• Statement of the Chairman of the Nominal Armenian Delegation at the Moscow Conference