Karabakh is an ancient Azerbaijan land, one of the first centres of civilisation. This is confirmed by archaeological findings in caves Azykh, Taglar, etc.

On the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict

In old times Karabakh was a part of Caucasian Albania - old Azerbaijan state populated mainly by Turks and Caucasian tribes.

During the Middle Ages Karabakh was a part of Azerbaijan state formations - Atabeks, Eldegezids, Gara-goyunlu, Ag-goyunlu, Sefevids.

When feudal division began, khanates formed on the territory of Azerbaijan and were populated with Azerbaijanians - Baki, Derbent, Kuba, Sheki, Shirvan, Lenkoran, Gyanja, Nakhichevan, Erivan and Karabakh khanates. The first ruler of Karabakh khanate was Panakh Ali-khan who founded Shusha town.

As a result of wars between Russia and Iran and also Russia and Turkey, in the first half of the XIX century Northern Azerbaijan, including Karabakh khanate was annexed to Russia.

In accordance with after-war peace treaties, transmigration of Armenian population began from the territory of neighbour Moslem states - Turkey and Iran to the territories of the former Azerbaijan khanates, mainly to Karabakh, Erivan and Nakhichevan.

Over 1 000 000 Armenian migrants were settled on new territories, including Karabakh. That was how Russian tsarist regime tried to “dilute” population of new Moslem outlying districts with loyal subjects - Christians. From that time the first territorial conflicts began between Armenian migrants and local Azerbaijanian population.

A.S.Griboyedov, Ambassador of Russian Empire to Persia, wrote in 1828 (“Notes on migration of Armenians from Persia to our regions”, 1828, in 2 volumes. Vol. II - Moscow, “Pravda” Publishing House, 1971, pp. 339-341):

“Armenians have been mainly settled on lands of Moslem landowners ... Migrants live cooped themselves and create problems for Moslems, whose resentment is obvious.

... We also talked about how to convince Moslems that their current burden will not be for long, that they should not worry that Armenians would seize their lands where they had been allowed to live for the present”.

N.I.Shavrov: “New threat to Russian activities in Trans-Caucasus: forthcoming sale of Mugan to aliens”, Sankt-Peterburg, 1911, pp. 59-61.

“During the period from 1828 to 1830 we brought to Trans-Caucasus over 40000 Armenians from Persia and 84600 Armenians from Turkey and settled them on the best public lands of Yelizavetpol and Erivan provinces where there was practically no Armenians...

Successfully completed war with Turkey in 1877-79 brought the flow of migrants from Asia Minor: about 50 thousand Armenians came to Kars region and about 40 thousand Greeks ... When in 1897 newly appointed Governor, Prince G.S. Golitsyn arrived there were already about 900 thousand Armenian migrants rather than 100 thousand as in 1894.

... Most of migrants are Armenians: of 1 million 300 thousand people living now in Trans-Caucasus 1 million are Armenians who are not indigenous here and were settled by us.

... Widely using false evidences, newly arrived Armenians seized vast territories of public lands.”

These words of Shavrov run all through the book of the outstanding Georgian writer and statesman I.Chavchavadze “Armenian scientists and crying stones” (Tiflis, 1902).

In his book I.Chavchavadze shows skilfully arranged system of false evidences which was created by Armenian scientists and public leaders and which helped them to put forward territorial claims having hidden their migrant roots. That was how it happened in 1918, when after the end of the I world war Republic Armenia unleashed war with the purpose of annexation of lands, against Georgia and against Azerbaijan. It all began, as Chavchavadze and other authors described in detail: falsifications with memorials and change them into Armenian fashion, destruction of historical and cultural monuments, mainly stone ones, which follows from the title of I.Chavchavadze’ book.

This practice continues now on the occupied Azerbaijanian territories. One example is shown below with photo-evidence.

This memorial was mounted in 1978 on the occasion of 150 anniversary of arrival of Armenians from Persian region Maraga to Karabakh. It is written on the stone in Armenian “Maraga - 150”. However, the memorial remained in such shape only 10 years, as in 1988 in Nagorny Karabakh began “realisation of right of the nation for self-determination”. Inscription on the memorial “Maraga - 150” immediately disappeared. Thus, the memorial was “silenced”.

It is not difficult to guess why this was done.

Said memorial fixed very important date - when migration of Armenians to Karabakh began. Extract from the order issued by Chief Military Commissar is given below. It shows that migration of Armenians from Persia began with Maraga.

“Re: preparation of migration of Christians... You must send immediately field-officers and senior officers to the districts most populated with Armenians and other Christians, in the first place - to Maraga. Our troops will start not later than on 8-th of March, hence migrants must move immediately .....”

(Sergei Glinka “On migration of Adderbidzhanian Armenians to Russian territories”, Moscow, 1831, Enclosure II).

That is why memorial was mounted in Maraga. This village became the first Armenian settlement in Karabakh and Armenian migrants gave this name in the honour of their native land in Persia. Hence - so impolite attitude to memorial, but so provident.

SHUSHA (this word means “glassy, transparent”)

History, culture, arts

Historical reference: Shusha - town in the Azerbaijan Republic on the territory of Nagorny Karabakh. Shusha is 403 km away from Baku, it lies 1400 m above the sea levels, on Karabakh mountainous ridge. Shusha is mountainous-climatic recreation place. In 1977 was declared reservation of Azerbaijan architecture and history.

Understanding that should Iranian troops and neighbour khans attack, Boyat fortress will not serve as an adequate shelter, Khan transferred his court to Shakhbulag. However, this fortress also could not protect against the enemies. That is why they had to build fortress in the mountains, in impassable, inaccessible place, so that even strong enemy would not be able to take it. The road to the fortress had to be opened from the one side for ilats from the mountains, also communication with magals should not be broken.

Those close to Panakh Ali-khan advised to choose safer site for building of a new fortress. Today’s Shusha located high in the mountains became that same place chosen by Panakh Ali-khan for his future residence. Construction of Shusha, its palaces and mosques was carried out under the supervision of great poet, diplomat and vizier of Karabakh khanate Molla Panakh Vagif. He chose places for construction of public and religious buildings (not only for Khan but also for feudal lords-”beys”). Thus, the plans for construction and laying out of Shusha were prepared.

At the end of 1750 Panakh Ali-khan moved all reyats, noble families, clerks and some senior people from villages from Shakhbulag to Shusha. Mirza Jamal Javanshir wrote that there had been no houses before that. Panakh Ali-khan invited best builders and very soon walls of the fortress were erected. Within a short term Shusha became inaccessible fortress.

Thus, realisation of personal, subjective purpose of feudal lords had in this case positive results: small shelter in mountains - residence of Khan, grew into a large economic centre of Karabakh vilayat, one of the largest towns in Azerbaijan where trade and handicraft flourished. This town first was called Panakhabad, then Shusha.

Population of Shusha was about 10 thousand people. Shusha became the centre connecting Trans-Caucasus with Iran and other countries.

Mirza Adygezal-bey wrote: “After Panakh-khan made residence there (in Panakhabad - ed.) and having built a fortress, made it a centre of his estate. He liberated Megri, Gyunai (Gyunekski) magals and lands and territories stretching up to Bargushat, from Karadag ruler and subdued them. He seized magals Tatev and Sisian from the ruler of Nakhichevan ... he won lands along the river Ter-Ter, from Ushajyg village to the border of Gekja (now lake Sevan - ed.) ... subordinate to Erivan ruler. Then Panakh-khan won territories stretching from Khudaferin bridge to the river Kyurek-chai belonging to Gyanja rulers”.

Karabakh khanate with its inaccessible fortress Panakhabad (Shusha) was one of the strongest Azerbaijan khanates.

In 1795 Aga Mukhammed shakh began attack on Trans-Caucasus in three directions. He was not satisfied with onshore attack on Erivan and Talysh and sent part of his troops through the Caspian sea. Main attack of Aga Mukhammed shakh was against Karabakh khanate. To the moment of arrival of Iranian troops through the Khudaferin bridge, Karabakh detachments consisting of Azerbaijanians and Armenians assembled in Shusha. Iranian troops began attack. Ibragim-khan assembled more than 15 thousand of warriors, he fortified the town and its outskirts, he stood up to the enemy and defeated them. Aga Mukhammed shakh fired at Shusha. Peoples’ war began in Karabakh. Iranian army suffered great losses, supplies became difficult.

Heroic defence of the fortress and courageous efforts of Shusha citizens made position of Aga Mukhammed shakh desperate. Watching over all these events, Georgian prince Irakli II wrote to general Gudovich on 27 August, 1795: “Aga Mukhammed shakh tried to surround Shusha fortress during more than one month, however people from Shusha intercepted his warriors, stole his cattle. That is why he could not win.”

Aga Mukhammed shakh could not overcome resistance of defenders of the fortress, he raised the siege and went to Georgia.

When Aga Mukhammed shakh attacked Karabakh for the second time, Ibragim khan could not resist him and together with his court and close people ran to Dagestan.

At the end of XVII - beginning of XIX century situation around Azerbaijan became very complicated and separate khanates could not exist by themselves.

Without a single gunshot, as a result of long political discussions bi-lateral treaty was concluded and Karabakh khanate was annexed to Russia. According to treaty signed by Tsitsianov and khan, tsar authorised the right of khan dinasty to own the territory in question. Khan was entitled for inner control over khanate.

Thus, Karabakh khanate was annexed to Russia as a “Moslem” possession rather than Armenian territory, which was written in official documents of that period.

It is important that Karabakh khanate, not its part - Nagorny Karabakh joined Russia (words Nagorny Karabakh appeared only in 1921), territory of Nagorny Karabakh being almost three times smaller than the territory of the whole khanate.

As for several “Armenian” meliks of Karabakh, they were, as remaining Armenian-speaking population of the country, yesterday’s albans who became Armenized. Meliks, by the way, in their letters to Russian tsar called themselves “successors of Arkashid and Albanian tsars”.

All educated persons knew about this already in XIX century. V.L.Velichko wrote: “ citizens of Karabakh, mistakenly called Armenians, were an exception ... their religion was Armenian-Gregorian ... and they became Armenized only three-four centuries ago”. This was known also to Armenian author B.Ishkhanyan (“People of Caucasus”. Petrograd, 1916) and many others.

Academicians from Armenia I.A.Orbeli, S.T. Yeremyan and others wrote about initial Albanian character of Nagorny Karabakh regions and subsequent Armenization of its people.

It is interesting to note that Armenian author of the XVII century Arakel Tavrizski called Karabakh the “country of Agvans” (i.e. Albans).

Up to the XIX century there was no noticeable Armenian ethnic mass on the territory of Nagorny Karabakh.

At the beginning of the XIX century there were 1698 buildings in Shusha, in the mid-century - 1856 buildings, 476 shops, 11 streets, 4 caravan-yards, 2 market-places, 7 public baths, 970 water pits, 6 squares, 4 stone and 2 wooden bridges, 9 mosques and 6 churches.

At the beginning of the XX-th century number of buildings increased to 2983, 2742 of them were made of stone. There were 1191 residential homes with iron roofing, 139 - with tiling, 364 homes made of earth, etc. There were also 17 mosques, 5 churches, 52 streets, 116 lanes, one town garden, 3 hotels, 36 restaurants, 870 handicraft workshops, about 2 thousand small shops. Such intensive construction was directly related with favourable conditions for development of Shusha after Russia won Azerbaijan. During that time development of the town could be even more effective, however the government did not pay enough attention to it. In some cases, instead of repair of medieval structures they were destructed. However, to the end of the investigated period, due to reanimation of economic life, number of residential homes and business objects increased to 8800.

As in other towns of Azerbaijan, streets of Shusha were illuminated with petroleum lamps. At the beginning of the century about 30 lamps illuminated the streets. Unlike many other towns there was a canalisation system in Shusha. According to some sources, in 70-s of the XIX-th century town population was supplied with drinking water from kyagrizes. There was always lack of water. In 1871, on the initiative and at the expense of famous lady-poet Khurshud Banu Natavan, water line made of clay pipes was laid from Khalifali mountain, 7 km from Shusha, to the town. This was very important event in life of citizens of the town. Daughter of Khan contributed 20 thousand roubles to construction of water pipeline. In Yastykala water pipeline was divided into two branches. The first branch led to the part of the town populated with Armenians, the second one - to the yard of Khan’s palace. Here Khurshud Banu constructed two excellent octahedral pools. Guests from Sheki, Shirvan, Gyanja, Nakhichevan were invited to the opening ceremony of these pools. Immediately after that price for water in Shusha reduced almost twice.

During the time of its existence numerous architectural memorials appeared in Shusha, with excellent composition and forms, which still draw attention. Fortress’ walls (partly), gate with tower still exist. Architecture of old residential homes and two castles of the XVIII century is very interesting.

The first large juma-mosque in Shusha was built in the second half of the XVIII century. This mosque was constructed following the order of Karabakh khan Ibragim-khan and is known under the name of Khan’s daughter - “Mosque of Govkhar-agi”. Two other juma-mosques were built: one - in the XVIII century, another - in the XIX century. The latter is most interesting as an architectural memorial: it has 2 minarets and portal, artistically decorated. Large caravan-yard, two-storey buildings also remain from the XIX century.

From 1800 to 1917 population of Shusha increased by 33 thousand 869 persons. If we take annual increase 200 people, then during the past 117 years population of the town increased by 23 thousand 400 persons at the expense of natural growth. Remaining 10468 falls on mechanical increase, due to migrants from the villages of Shusha region and other places, including Armenians from Persia and Turkey, transmigration.

Shusha was famous with its handicrafts. In some spheres it was already small-scale commercial production.

Shusha carpets were famous far outside the region. Azerbaijanians were mainly involved in carpet-making.

Fabrication of silk from silk cocoons in Shusha at the beginning of the XIX century was mainly primitive. Manual spindles were used. In the middle of the XIX century spindle winding machines appeared. They were more efficient. Local people called these machines “manjalyg”.

In 70-s of the XIX century in Shusha, as in other towns of Azerbaijan steam engines appeared and were used at the factories. Silk winding and silk weaving process acquired large-scale industrial status.

Local people also produced leather goods. There were 19 tanneries with total 40 employees, They produced annually more than 2.000 pcs of hides -sole leather, up to 1.400 goat skins and up t0 1.600 sheep skins.

Bricks were required for construction. 22 employees were involved in fabrication of bricks, their wages were 70 silver kopecks per 1 thousand of produced bricks, which were sold for 10 silver roubles.

In 1990 there were 7 soap plants in Shusha, with turnover 67950 roubles. 24 employees worked there.

Shusha is also large trade centre.

Conquest of Azerbaijan by Russia had some positive impact on development of culture, including that of Shusha.

New educational institutions appeared here. Shusha being really Azerbaijanian town, was a cradle of numerous Azerbaijanian musicians, poets, writers, theatre authors, etc. - Uzeir Gadzhibekov, J. Karyagdy oglu, Khurshud Banu Natavan, Molla Panakh Vagif, M.P.Vidadi, Byul-Byul and many other luminaries of the Azerbaijanian culture.

History is an accurate science, based on facts. Obviously, facts can be interpreted in a different way. However, falsifications of facts and chronology of historical events is inadmissible.

Unfortunately, recent events show that such things are possible in a public-political sphere. It requires only flows of false statements and prevention of attempts by the other party to refute such falsehood.

Such is the story on Nagorny Karabakh and around it, where Armenian side successfully implements its policy.

Following Armenia which became ethnically “pure”, mono-national as a result of war with Azerbaijan and expulsion of all Azerbaijanians, same happened on 20 % of the occupied Azerbainaian lands.