The All-Armenian Union of “Gardman, Shirvan, Nakhichevan” issued a statement:
The years 1918–1919 were particularly disastrous for the Armenians of Nakhichevan, as the newly proclaimed authorities of Azerbaijan sought to establish control over the territory without any legal basis.
This historical period was marked by systematic massacres and forced deportations of the local Armenian population, culminating in the brutal massacres of the Armenians of Upper and Lower Agulis. Despite these atrocities, in the spring of 1919 the Republic of Armenia legally re-established its sovereignty over Nakhichevan.
However, in 1921, by the Treaty of Moscow, signed between two internationally unrecognized associations: the Moscow Soviet and the Kemalist governments of Ankara, Nakhichevan was placed under the tutelage of Azerbaijan with the status of an autonomous republic. This treaty, later reaffirmed by the Treaty of Kars, was signed without the participation or consent of the legal representatives of Armenia. Thus violating the fundamental principles of international law, since two, especially unrecognized, powers cannot unilaterally determine the borders of a third country without the participation and consent of the legal representative of the given country.
Since the establishment of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, the Azerbaijani authorities have pursued a systematic policy of eradicating the Armenian presence in the region.
This is clearly demonstrated by demographic data.
In 1917, Armenians numbered more than 50,900 people (40% of the population). By 1926, their number had decreased to 11,276 (10.8%), in 1939 to 13,350 (10.5%), and by 1959 to 9,519 (6.7%); In 1970, 5,828 (2.9%), in 1979, 3,406 (1.4%), and in 1989, 1,858 (0.6%). Today, there are no Armenians left in Nakhchivan. This demographic trajectory is clear evidence of a policy of systematic ethnic cleansing.
In Nakhichevan, as well as in the territories under the de facto control of Azerbaijan, the Armenian religious and cultural heritage has been subjected to deliberate destruction and desecration. A vivid example of this is the complete demolition of the Armenian cemetery in Julfa, an undeniable fact of cultural vandalism, the purpose of which is to erase all traces of Armenian historical identity in the region.
The All-Armenian Union "Gardman, Shirvan, Nakhichevan" raises its voice of protest against another historical injustice, which has become the reason for the unhindered implementation of crimes against humanity, including genocide and ethnocide. Azerbaijan must face historical injustice and bear due responsibility for racist policies, systematic violations of human rights, and all crimes committed at the state and public levels.
