THE DESTRUCTION OF SHUSHI, THE MASSACRE OF THE ARMENIAN POPULATION: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND HISTORY LESSONS

Abstract

Since the end of the 18th century, the city of Shushi has become an integral part of the life
of the Armenian people. After joining the Russian Empire, Shushi began to actively develop
and at the beginning of the XX century turned into one of the prominent centers of the
Caucasus region. During the First Russian Revolution, Shushi turned into an arena of
Azerbaijani-Armenian clashes. The Armenian population of the city rose against the
encroachments of extremely nationalist and anti-Armenian-minded Azerbaijani ruffians, who
were openly supported by the satraps of the tsar. Despite the inequality of forces, the
Armenians living in the city were able to protect themselves. But, nevertheless, these bloody
clashes and the anti-Armenian policy of tsarism had serious negative political and socio-
economic consequences for the Armenian population of the Caucasus. The situation in
Artsakh, including Shushi, was also difficult. World War I, the collapse of the Russian Empire
and the creation of independent states in Transcaucasia extremely aggravated interethnic
relations in the region. From the first days of its formation, the Republic of Azerbaijan began to
pursue a fierce anti-Armenian policy, which, first of all, posed a threat to the existence of the
Armenian population of Artsakh and Zangezur. The culmination of this barbaric, inhuman
policy was the destruction of Shushi. From March 23 to April 6, 1920, the armed formations of
the Turks, the Azeri and the Kurds living in the Azerbaijan Republic massacred almost the
entire Armenian population of Shushi. The thirty-five thousand Armenians of Shushi ceased to
exist. The once flourishing and prosperous city, the famous center of Armenian culture was
ruined. The defeat of the administrative and cultural center of Artsakh became an irrevocable
loss for the entire Armenian ethnic group. The fall of Shushi and the genocide of its population
left a bloody trace in our memory and taught serious history lessons: the guarantee of the
existence and development of the Armenian nation is the indestructible unity of the Republic of
Armenia, the Artsakh Republic and Spyurk (Armenian Diaspora); we are doomed to create a
politically, socioeconomically, morally and psychologically cohesive and strong society; the
guarantee of the existence of our ethnos and the two Armenian states is and will be the
Armenian Army; it must always be remembered that in all political, socio-economic situations,
Azerbaijan will make territorial claims against Armenia and the Armenian people; the
Armenian people should develop strong, good-neighborly relations with the Republic of
Georgia, the Islamic Republic of Iran and constantly be aware that the Russian Federation is
and will be the only reliable ally forever.