Foreign Ministry: Thousands of Azerbaijanis killed in 1918 genocide on ethnic, religious grounds

On March 31, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs marked the 107th anniversary of the 1918 March genocide, one of the largest atrocities committed by radical Armenian groups against peaceful Azerbaijanis in the early 20th century.

The Ministry expressed deep respect and honour for the thousands of innocent lives lost during these tragic events, which unfolded due to ethnic and religious intolerance, Caliber.Az reports per Foreign Ministry.

"Today marks the 107th anniversary of the March genocide of 1918, one of the largest genocides committed by radical Armenian groups against peaceful Azerbaijanis in the last century, when thousands of compatriots were brutally killed on ethnic and religious grounds," the statement reads.

The Ministry highlights that the massacres took place across several regions, including Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Zangazur, Nakhchivan, Shirvan, and Iravan, where over 16,000 people were killed and 167 villages destroyed. The atrocity was carried out by armed soldiers from the Baku Soviet and Dashnaksutyun Party under the guise of fighting "counter-revolutionaries."

The Ministry further stressed the brutality of the massacre, stating that cultural and religious monuments, mosques, and cemeteries belonging to Azerbaijanis were attacked, underscoring the role of ethnic hatred and intolerance in these events.

"During these massacres, which were part of a systematic policy of ethnic cleansing and genocide against Azerbaijanis, the killings of innocent Azerbaijanis were carried out with extreme brutality," the Ministry stated.

Following Azerbaijan's independence and the return of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to power, the state issued a formal political assessment of these crimes, including a Decree on March 26, 1998, marking the genocide.

The Ministry’s statement also draws a direct link between these historic atrocities and the ongoing policy of ethnic intolerance. "The policy of ethnic hatred and intolerance, which underlies the massacres committed at the beginning of the twentieth century, persisted through the mass deportation of Azerbaijanis from the territories of present-day Armenia and continued through various tragic events, including the Khojaly genocide and war crimes during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020."

Acknowledging that the post-conflict period offers a chance to resolve these tragic chapters, the Ministry stressed the enduring challenge posed by Armenia's territorial claims. "Although the current post-conflict period offers historical opportunities to turn the pages of these tragic chapters in the region's history, the territorial claims that have fueled all the atrocities to date remain the greatest obstacle to the region’s stable future."

In conclusion, the Ministry reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to holding those responsible for the crimes accountable and securing lasting peace. "On March 31– the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, we solemnly and respectfully pay tribute to the memory of innocent Azerbaijanis who suffered from ethnic hatred and genocide. May Allah rest their souls in peace."

By Aghakazim Guliyev