Think about it, while you are living a happy life in your own home, someone comes and demands that you must leave your home. You are expelled from your homeland without even asking why. You are exiled from your homeland where you were born and raised, despite your thousands of years of past there. Leaving the graves of your dear relatives, holy monuments, mosques and historical artifacts behind, you are driven into trucks like a commodity. You get fired by being deprived of so many things that make you who you are.
It was “necessity” to establish a Christian state in the South Caucasus in line with the interests of Tsarist Russia and Iran. Political geography makers (map “artists”) had decided on this. An ethnic community was found, and the land was sought for the establishment of a “state” for the said community.
It was also of great importance that Anatolian Ottoman Türkiye`s relations with other Turkic States were cut off geographically. The last periods of the weakened Ottoman Empire. People of ethnically Armenian origin living in Anatolia and Iran were immigrated to the region now known as Armenia at various intervals.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims in Western Azerbaijan had to suffer the pain of this project. Because the Christian Armenians who were immigrated to the region, with the encouragement of those who brought them there, forced the local Muslims to migrate from their homeland. In fact, Hitler`s Lebensraum was continued against Muslim Azerbaijanis throughout the 20th century, beginning in the mid 19th century long before the bloody fascist leader.
Russian historian Nikolai Nikolaevich Shavrov states the following in one of his studies: “At the beginning of the century, more than 1,300,000 Armenians were settled in Transcaucasia, more than 1 million of them were not natives of the region, they were settled by us (Russia).”
Alexander Sergeyevich Griboyedov was insistently recommending the establishment of a Christian state in the region by immigrating Armenians from Iran to Azerbaijani lands in the information documents he sent to his capital while he was working as the Ambassador of Tsarist Russia in Tehran. The decree of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I dated March 21, 1828 is about the first steps of establishing/determining a homeland for the Armenians brought to Azerbaijan.
The scientific studies of the prominent American historian Justin A. McCarthy on the subject reveal how the process of creating a homeland and state for the Armenians was carried out as if with a laboratory study.
Russian historian Stepan Pavlovich Zelinsky, who has made important studies on the history of the city of Irevan, which is now turned the capital city of Armenia, confirms the facts about the emigration of Christian Armenians to the regions where the Muslim Azerbaijani people live.
Regarding all these facts, I consciously do not cite historical Azerbaijani sources as an example. This is extremely important as it is seen that the Azerbaijani theses about the fact of the creation of an artificial state called Armenia on Azerbaijani lands are also confirmed by foreign sources.
It is very interesting that the projects of Tsarist Russia were continued with enthusiasm without interruption by the USSR administration. Muslim Azerbaijani people from the region of present Armenia were mainly forced to migrate to different regions of the present Azerbaijan Republic in 1905-1906, 1918-1920 before the USSR, and after the USSR in 1948-1953, 1988-1991. As the "natural" continuation of bloody immigration policies, names of settlements, rivers, streams, lakes, forests, etc. which were unique to Azerbaijan were changed quickly, cemeteries, mosques, historical places and buildings were destroyed. The process of building the Armenian nation-state was requiring such vandalism.
In 1920, with the instructions of Moscow and the decision of the Central Bureau of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan SSR and the Caucasus Bureau of the Russian Communist Party, the Zangezur region of Azerbaijan was united into Armenia. In other words, the geographical construction process of a new “state” was thus completed.
In addition, another important point is that the life for the Muslim Azerbaijanis, the indigenous people of Armenia at that time, was rendered uninhabitable situation as a result of various governmental policies of Moscow and the Armenia SSR. It is well remembered that Muslim Azerbaijanis who were not admitted to the higher education institutions of the Armenia SSR were directed and encouraged to the educational institutions of the Azerbaijan SSR. In terms of job opportunities after education, Azerbaijanis were always facing obstacles created by the government of Armenia SSR.
Every year, on June 20, the world celebrates World Refugee Day to show that it cares for people who have had to flee their homeland. World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations on behalf of refugees around the world.
In 1989, a non-governmental organization named Azerbaijan Refugee Association was established. It is a democratic civil organization in order to express the common pain of hundreds of thousands of people who have been expelled from their homeland, to announce to the world that their basic human rights have been violated during the last 150 years, and to seek solutions to their problems. Azerbaijan Refugee Association became more active by reorganizing as Western Azerbaijan Community in 2022.
The Community declared the Return Concept in January of this year within the framework of international law. In this context, relations with international institutions such as the UN, European Union, European Council, European Parliament, UNESCO, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have been established.
The foundation purpose, essence and activities of the Western Azerbaijan Community are within the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The main mission of the Community is to call and aim to remedy the grievances created for them due to activities contrary to international law.
Being able to return to their homeland in peace and dignity and to visit the holy places and the remains of the graves of their relatives are the most basic human rights. Returning to their lands, living there and being integrated into Armenian society is not a bad thing, it is an initiative that the Government of the Republic of Armenia should support. Getting rid of monoethnicity will only bring great benefits to Armenia.
Several times the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan reiterated integration calls towards the citizens of Armenian origin living in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, in whose hands it is very clear that they are being held captive. Unfortunately, we do not see the similar approach of the Government of the Republic of Armenia towards the exiled Azerbaijanis.
* Dr. Elsevar Salmanov is the First Secretary-Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.
Astro Awani
Tue Jul 04 2023
Dr. Elsevar Salmanov, the First Secretary-Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, highlights the realities facing exiled Azerbaijanis.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.
NFOF will be operational in November 2024 with funding of RM1 bil
PM Anwar Ibrahim said NFOF will support venture capital fund managers to invest in startup companies with RM300 million set aside for 2025.
Minimum wage to increase to RM1,700 effective Feb 1, 2025
The Progressive Wage Policy would be fully enforced next year with an allocation of RM200 million, benefiting 50,000 workers.
Bursa Malaysia ends higher on Budget 2025 optimism
The benchmark index, which opened 1.85 points higher at 1,643.29, moved between 1,641.71 and 1,649.31 throughout the trading session.
Five important aspects relating to people’s lives in Budget 2025 - PM
The focus is on driving the MADANI Economy, speeding reforms, cutting red tape, raising wages, and tackling the cost of living.
Economic outlook: Govt plans to leverage, expand existing city transit system
The expansion aims to provide a more efficient and reliable public transportation network, reduce congestion, and improve accessibility.
Economic outlook: Budget 2025 to lay foundation for a digital-driven economy
The report said Budget 2025 will entail efforts to position Kuala Lumpur as a top 20 global startup hub by 2030 through the KL20 initiative.
Economic outlook: Corruption and lack of accountability hinder economic progress
Special Cabinet Committee on National governance is established to curb corruption, law reforms to modernise outdate regulations, MoF said.
National Wages Consultative Council will be strengthened
The govt will also incentivise hiring women returning from career breaks, offer job matching and improve care services facilities.
Economic outlook: Ensuring 11 years of compulsory education for all children
Budget 2025 will continue prioritising upskilling and retraining initiatives to equip workers with the latest skill sets necessary.
Consolidated public sector projected to record lower surplus of RM41.7 bil 2024
The MoF said the consolidated general government revenue is estimated to increase slightly to RM384.7 billion in 2024.
PM announces substantial Budget 2025 hastening Malaysia to become Asian economic powerhouse
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said it would create jobs and also tackle financial leakages to enhance public spending efficiency.