March 31 Genocide – a crime against humanity

During the Soviet era, like many other areas, our nation's historical memory was attempted to be erased, with traces of events that occurred from time to time being lost and subjected to great distortions. Over the last two centuries, when we look at and investigate the calamities inflicted upon our nation, we encounter the same scenario, the same goal, and the same intent.

Looking back at history, we see that under the idea of creating a “Greater Armenia” by Armenian nationalists, a policy of genocide has been carried out against our nation in various periods and forms. The ethnic cleansing, deportations, and genocides committed against our nation from time to time bear witness to the treacherous and heinous intentions of Armenians. Unfortunately, the March 31 genocide, which for many years did not receive its political and legal assessment, is also an example of this heinous policy. One of the most tragic pages of our centuries-old history, the genocides, murders, and atrocities committed by Armenian bandit groups in most regions of our country in March-April 1918, served precisely this heinous policy.

We must also specifically note that this vandalistic community carried out this policy with the help of their patrons. Based on the results of the Gulistan and Turkmenchay peace treaties, Armenians resettled from the territory of present-day Iran and the then Ottoman Empire to our historical lands suddenly began to act as the “historical inhabitants” of these places. The forced change in the demographic situation in historical Karabakh and Zangazur, the massacres of the Azerbaijani population in 1905 and 1918, the creation of the Armenian state on historical Azerbaijani lands in 1918, the transfer of the city of Iravan to Armenia as its capital, the transfer of Zangazur to Armenians, and facts such as the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from their ancestral lands in 1948-1953 are tragic and bloody pages of the history of genocide. Our nation was forced to experience this treacherous policy once again in the 1990s. Once again, encouraged by the support of their patrons, Armenian nationalists, instigated by the then Soviet leadership, launched open military aggression against Azerbaijan to forcibly annex Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia.

During the First Karabakh War, the heinous enemy once again demonstrated its intentions and nature by committing bloody crimes; the Khojaly genocide committed on February 25-26, 1992, was an unprecedented bloody act due to its cruelty and brutality. It can be confidently stated that this event will remain a black stain in the history of humanity. The historical assessment of the genocide policy carried out against our nation for centuries was given by our National Leader Heydar Aliyev. Thus, the 1918 genocide received its legal and political assessment after the Decree of the Great Leader dated March 26, 1998. It is precisely since then that March 31 has been commemorated at the state level as the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. On that day, the attention of the world community is drawn to this tragedy. The events of the last four years and the course of historical processes condemned the aggressive policy of the Armenian state and its patrons to failure. As a result of the thoughtful, logical, and resolute domestic and foreign policy implemented by the Victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Mr. Ilham Aliyev, new realities have formed in our region. Historical justice has been restored. Azerbaijan has demonstrated political, economic, and true national unity to the whole world.

Under the leadership of Mr. Ilham Aliyev, with the valor of our glorious army and the unity of our people, the enemy was brought to its knees within 44 days. Our territorial integrity was restored in less than a day. Today, our people have such confidence that our country is always ready to give a fitting response to any force eyeing our historical lands and to all threats directed against our people!.

Shafag Balashova
Neftchala district