The Neutralization of Dro – The Atrocities of the Bolsheviks and the Armenian Uprising of 1921

In January 1921, the Moscow government demanded my departure from Armenia. I made the decision to leave despite the fact that the Armenian army under my command was much larger than the Red Army that was to arrive. If I had not done so, Armenia would have fallen into the clutches of a civil war, and the already bloodless Armenian nation would have been subjected to new challenges.

By the decision of the party and with my consent, I chose the way of deportation. My departure left a depressing impression on the people who resisted this with a silent demonstration.

As a result, I found myself blocked in Moscow, having no right to drive farther than 60 km from the city and be absent for more than 48 hours without the knowledge of the government.

After my departure, all Armenian officers, one thousand five hundred men led by Nazarbekyan, Hakhverdyan, and Silikyan, were exiled into deep Russia to Ryazan in the most difficult winter season under a convoy of machine-gunners. Those who remained in Armenia were also in a difficult situation.

After the exile of the officers, the Bolsheviks began the most terrible and limitless persecutions against the Armenian leadership and intellectuals. Prisons were filled with numerous prisoners… The Russians were even taking all Armenian wheat to Azerbaijan.

Before this cruelty, Armenians experienced days of mourning and sobbing. Russophiles-Armenians saw and witnessed with their own eyes that the Soviet government was no different from the sultan’s regime… Armenia became a country of terror and fear.

Drastamat Kanayan

“West”, February 18, 1948 (Dro published this article under the pseudonym T. Zareh)

«Արեւելք», Փետրվարի 18, 1948 թ. (Դրոն սույն հոդվածը հրապարակել է Տ. Զարեհ ծածկանունով)

In response to the atrocities of the Bolsheviks, a popular uprising broke out on February 16, 1921. After Sovietization, Armenia turned out to be the only country that not only raised a rebellion but also drove the Bolshevik invaders out from the Armenian territory and restored statehood and independence for more than 40 days (from February 18 to April 2, 1921).

When the gates of Yerevan’s jail were opened, numerous bodies of the representatives of the intelligentsia hacked with axes were found there.

The restoration of statehood and independence of Armenia is of great political importance. It was exactly on March 16, 1921, in Moscow that the Bolsheviks and Kemalists, without the participation of the Armenian side, decided the future of the Armenian people without having the right to do so.

Neither the Bolsheviks nor the Turks at that time even controlled the territory of Armenia. The criminal treaty “on friendship and fraternity” signed on March 16, 1921, is a rude violation of international law.

Arshaluis Zurabyan