Page 17 - Azərbaycan xalçaları

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headed by S. Shaumyan and the withdrawal of Turkish troops

from Nakhchivan in accordance with the Mudros Truce (October

30, 1918) further aggravated the situation. Taking their chances,

the Armenians committed massive massacres against Azerbai-

janis, longing to occupy the ancient Azerbaijani lands of Nakh-

chivan, Zangezur, and Karabakh. Surrounded on all sides by en-

emies, the patriots of independence from Nakhchivan created the

Araz Turkish Republic in November 1918 in order to save the peo-

ple from Armenian genocide. The Araz Turkish Republic, whose

capital was Nakhchivan City, governed the Nakhchivan uyezd, the

Sharur-Daralayaz, and Ordubad districts, as well as Sardarabad,

Ulukhanli, Vedibasar, Gamarli, Mehri, and other territories. The

Republic’s Council of Ministers was headed by Amir bey Akbar-

zadeh. The Araz Turkish Republic formed armed units to protect

the area and population from Armenian attacks and conducted ac-

tive military operations against the enemy. Encircled by enemies,

the Araz Turkish Republic considered itself an integral part of the

Azerbaijan People’s Republic and made all attempts to get into

contact with Baku. A delegation from the Araz Turkish Republic

came from Nakhchivan to Baku on March 8, 1919. The govern-

ment of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic also tried to pay more

attention to Nakhchivan, as it was an integral part of Azerbaijan.

But the English occupied Nakhchivan in early

1919. The Araz Turkish Republic collapsed

in March 1919 due to the intervention of the

English, who were supporting the Armenians.

Nevertheless, in this grave time for Azerbaijan,

the Araz Turkish Republic played an important

role by uniting the area’s Azerbaijani forces

against their enemies, preventing the murder

of the population by the Dashnaks, and most

importantly, did not allow the occupation of the

region by the Armenians. Thus, the territorial

integrity of the Azerbaijan People’s Republic

was ensured

34

.

In the second half of 1919, the United States’

role in the region increased. However, an ini-

tiative to establish an American governor gen-

eral’s office in Nakhchivan failed. Though the

government of the Azerbaijan People’s Repub-

lic made some progress in the struggle for the

country’s territorial integrity, in some ways it

failed. The republic’s government trusted in

an agreement concluded with Armenia on No-

vember 23, 1919 and withdrew its troops from

Zangezur. Taking advantage of this, Arme-

nians occupied Zangezur. Yet, their invasive

plans concerning Nakhchivan did not succeed.

Though with grave difficulties, Nakhchivan

was protected from the Armenian occupation.

The Azerbaijan People’s Republic col-

lapsed as a consequence of the April invasion

of 1920. Northern Azerbaijan was Sovietized.

On July 28, Soviet power was established in

Nakhchivan and the Nakhchivan Soviet So-

cialist Republic was created

35

. The Republic’s

supreme authority was the Military Revolu-

tionary Committee (MRC). M. Baktashov, A.

Gadimov, F. Mahmudbeyov, G. Babayev, and

others were included in the MRC. A letter of the MRC dated Au-

gust 10, 1920 addressed to Nariman Narimanov, the chairman of

theAzerbaijan SSR People’s Council of Commissars, reported that

taking into consideration the will and requirements of the over-

whelming majority of the working class, the land of Nakhchivan

had announced itself an integral part of the Azerbaijan SSR.

Yet, in order to realize this important resolution, Nakhchivan

needed to be protected from Dashnak-Armenian aggression. In

September 1920, the attack of Dashnak-Armenian military units in

Nakhchivan commenced. Nevertheless, the people of Nakhchivan

united to defend their native land and repelled the attack. Ordubad

was liberated on September 18. A new attack by Armenian mili-

tary units in November was also repulsed. Sharur was liberated

in a counterattack. Thus the population of Nakhchivan did not let

Armenians conquer their native land.

After the Eleventh Red Army established Soviet power in Ar-

menia on November 29, 1920, the danger for Nakhchivan further

increased. Soviet Russia tried to annex Nakhchivan to Armenia

through different means. Only the resolute resistance and strug-

gle of the Nakhchivani population prevented the realization of this

anti-Azerbaijan policy. The Azerbaijan SSR Commissar of Justice,

Ruins of Kharabagilan city. Last Bronze-First Iron Age. Ordubad.

Open-Air Museum. Nakhchivan.

Azerbaijani carpets / NAKHCHIVAN GROUP