Azerbaijan

AZERBAIJAN

"If there is a single Armenian left in Karabakh this October, the Azerbaijanis will hang him in Baku's Central Square." --Former Azerbaijan President Elchibey, 6/92

GANDZASAR KARABAGH CHURCH,

ARMENIAN BUILT, A.D. 1211

SHELLING OF STEPANAKERT (XAKENDI), DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY AZERBAIJAN, ORDERS FROM BAKU

MAPS OF AZERBAIJAN & Pictures of War Front IN KARABAGH, AZERBAIJAN

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Amnesty: Azerbaijan

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Russia has been no less avid in pursuing what it perceives as its interests. It has gone from supporting Armenian forces to aiding Azerbaijan forces in order to perpetuate the conflict there. There have even been rumors that the Kremlin tried to instigate a coup against Azerbaijan President Gaidar Aliyev after he signed a deal with a British-led oil consortium last fall.

In Georgia, meanwhile, Russia has followed the same tactic, as Azerbaijan, of divide et impera. Initially, Russia assisted Abkhaz separatists in 1993, then, once Georgia applied for admission to the Commonwealth of Independent States, began to back President Eduard Shevardnadze. Throughout, however, Moscow has never totally turned on the separatists, holding them in reserve should Shevardnadze consider reneging on Georgian membership in the CIS. Watch for more on Azerbaijan.

Russia's main official justification for its bullying of the CIS states is its apprehension about Turkey--Moscow's chief competitor as a Eurasian power. Ankara has sponsored a peace plan (between Armenia & Azerbaijan) for Nagorno-Karabakh and sought to arrange an oil pipeline from Central Asia to Turkey while Russia has insisted that all oil shipments(from Azerbaijan) be exported through the port of Novorossisk. However hypertrophied Russia's fear of an anti-Russian Islamic bloc may appear, Moscow views Turkey as a prime threat to its interests in both Central Asia and in the Balkans. The two powers have fallen out over Turkish & Azerbaijan assistance to the Chechen rebels and Russian support for the Kurds, among other matters.

he most dramatic shift triggered by the rise of Turkey, however, has been a rapprochement between Iran and Russia. For Iran, Russia is both a potential anti-Western bulwark and a supplier of arms, while Turkey stands as a threat to its own security and a source of support for anti-Iranian leaders in Central Asia(including Azerbaijan). Above all, Iran believes that Turkey is a pawn of the U.S., which seeks to isolate it. For Russia, meanwhile, Iran provides an inroad into the Islamic world, a strategic partner to maintain a global foreign policy and a valuable economic partner that could counterbalance a Turkish-led Muslim world. Interestingly, Moscow does not seem to fear Iranian encroachments into Azerbaijan, and, indeed, there are few signs that Tehran has effectively whipped up pro-Islamic sentiment even in fundamentalist-leaning republics such as Azerbaijan.

Relations between Russia and Iran first began to blossom in February 1989 when Shevardnadze, in his capacity as foreign minister of the Soviet Union, met with the Ayatollah Khomeini. "The meeting put the ayatollah's seal of approval on expanded ties between Tehran and Moscow," notes Iran expert Shireen Hunter in Transition's December 29, 1995, issue, "so that in the future no one in the Iranian leadership could challenge the wisdom of having good relations with Moscow." By June 1989 Iran had signed a host of weapons agreements with Moscow. Since then, contacts have grown steadily warmer. In 1991, Russia arranged a deal to sell three Kilo-class attack submarines to Iran, and Russian specialists are now helping Iran construct the $1 billion Bushehr nuclear power plant. The sentiments underlying this chumminess were captured by Pavel Felgengauer in the Moscow weekly Sevodnya. In an article titled "THE POLITICAL ELITE WILL NOT ALLOW THE PRESIDENT OT YIELD TO PRESSURE FROM THE WEST," Felgengauer wrote, "Cooperation with Iran is more than just a question of money and orders for the Russian atomic industry. Today, a hostile Tehran could cause a great deal of unpleasantness for Russia in the northern Caucasus(including Azerbaijan) and in Tajikistan.... On the other hand, a friendly Iran could become an important strategic ally in the future."

Azerbaijan War Front Stories as Told by a medic serving in Karabagh Defense Forces Against Azerbaijan

"Are you sure the rich man fights better?" -- Armenian President Robert Kocharian, commenting on the hypothesis that oil wealth will improve Azerbaijan military potential of Baku, Azerbaijan ("The New York Times," 14 September 1998).

Ancient Maps of Armenia, Karabagh, and Azerbaijan
RFE/RFL - Azerbaijan

AZERBAIJAN WARNS IT MAY SHOOT DOWN INTRUDING AIRCRAFT. General Ravil Rzaev, the commander of Azerbaijan air force, told journalists in Baku on 13 August that the country's air defense forces will shoot down Iranian and other foreign aircraft that violate Azerbaijan's airspace "if the life of our citizens is endangered," Turan and Interfax reported. He said the air force is on war alert. Iranian aircraft have penetrated Azerbaijan airspace almost daily over the past week. Also on 13 August, opposition Musavat Party Chairman Isa Gambar argued that the Azerbaijani government should "either suppress Iran's aggression against Azerbaijan" or lodge a formal complaint with international organizations. LF

Baroness Caroline Cox: MASSACRE OF KARABAGH ARMENIANS by Azerbaijan

Killing of Americans in Baku, Azerbaijan

Turkey and Azerbaijan Crimes Against Humanity

| History of 'Nagorno-Karabagh in Azerbaijan SSR' |

Azerbaijan Links - All neutral sources about Azerbaijan

| 'Seek On' Links about Karabagh (Azerbaijan)| CSUN History of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh (Azerbaijan)|

Newspaper and Magazine References During The Nagorno-Karabagh War (initiated by Azerbaijan)

Letter from Vazgen I to Supreme Soviet Council - Translated from Russian - 1956 (About Azerbaijan) Amaras Monastery Gandzasar XIII century Christian Church Afghan Fighters Joined Azeri-Armenian War in 1993 on the side of Azerbaijan

Sumgait : Rape, Murder, and Torture in Azerbaijan

Visit by Greek Armed Forces to Yerevan and Recap News Items From Azerbaijan

Elchibey: Opposition Leader of Azerbaijan - "Russia Will Break-Up", Agrees with Chechen Independence

Detailed History of Armenia and Azerbaijan

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Note to Readers: Events at the height of the Nagorno-Karabagh (Azerbaijan SSR Oblast) conflict, from 1992 to 1993, cannot be fully understood outside the context provided by the occurrences of the preceding four years. Accordingly, the following timeline notes significant events leading up to the major clashes between the self-defense formations of Karabagh Armenians and the armed forces of the Azerbaijan state. This is a thorough play-by-play explanation of the war in Azerbaijan

Prelude to Conflict: Events Leading to the Defense of Karabagh(Azerbaijan SSR Oblast) after Azerbaijan first attacked

Events at the height of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, from 1992 to 1993, cannot be fully understood outside the context provided by the occurrences of the preceding four years. Accordingly, the following Azerbaijan timeline notes significant events leading up to the major clashes between the self-defense formations of Karabagh Armenians and the armed forces of the Azerbaijan state.

February 11, 1988: Armenian activists organize public demonstrations in Stepanakert(at the time in Azerbaijan SSR) and other regional centers of Karabagh(Azerbaijan SSR). Open letters, flyers, and petitions calling for reunification with Armenia are distributed during the rallies. Christian Science Monitor, 2/29/88

February 20, 1988: By a 110-17 vote, the Regional Soviet of the Nagorno-Karabagh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) calls for the reunification of Karabagh with Armenia. Azerbaijan members of the Soviet abstain during the voting. Christian Science Monitor, 2/29/88

February 21-22, 1988: In Hadrut, Karabaghs southernmost district, Armenian residents are attacked by Azerbaijan in retaliation for the recent public demonstrations. Many Armenians are driven from their homes toward Stepanakert.

February 23, 1988: The Central Committee of the Communist Party rejects the demands of NKAO. Massive demonstrations taken place in Yerevan, Armenias capitol.

February 27-29 1988: Azerbaijan mobs organize premeditated anti-Armenian pogroms in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, an industrial city on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Hundreds are killed. Nearly all of the remaining Armenian inhabitants hastily flee. United Press International, 2/29/88; New York Times, 3/1/88

March 4, 1998: Gangs of Turks in Azerbaijan attack, beat, and kill Armenians in the streets of Kirovabad (Ganja). The number killed is unknown. Azerbaijani police do little to stop the violence. Toronto Star, 3/11/88

March 28, 1988: The USSR Supreme Soviet presidium rejects Nagorno-Karabaghs call for reunification.

May 13, 1988: An Armenian child is killed when Azerbaijan gangs destroy an Armenian kindergarten in Stepanakert. United Press International, 3/13/88

June 15, 1988: The Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR adopts the decision taken during the NKAOs February 20 session regarding reunification against Azerbaijan.

July 12, 1988: The NKAO Regional Soviet once again decides, in accordance with the provisions of the USSR Constitution, to secede from Azerbaijan. Macleans, 7/25/88

July 18, 1988: The USSR Supreme Soviet rejects NKAOs call for reunification.
July 29, 1988: Half a million people rally at night in the Armenian capital of Yerevan to protest a Kremlin ruling dashing Armenian claims to Nagorno-Karabagh against Azerbaijan. Los Angeles Times, 8/3/88

September 18, 1988: One Armenian is killed by Azerbaijan and 70 others are wounded in disturbances in Khojalu, near Stepanakert, Karabagh (karabakh). Economist, 9/24/88; Washington Post, 9/21/88

November 20-24, 1988: Anti-Armenian pogroms take place in several Azerbaijan cities, including Baku, Nakhichevan, and Ganja (Kirovabad), during which 20 Armenians and 3 Soviet soldiers guarding them are killed. At least 300 Armenian homes are burned down in Ganja. Soviet troops are assigned to guard the homes of Armenians in Baku, Azerbaijan. A state of emergency and curfew are established in Ganja, Azerbaijan and Baku, Azerbaijan. BBC, 11/26/88; Guardian, 11/26/88

January 12, 1989: The USSR Supreme Soviet decides to keep NKAO under Azerbaijani jurisdiction. The Supreme Soviet also forms a Special Commission to directly govern Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabagh, and Armenia.

August 16, 1989: The Armenians of NKAO form their own National Council.

August 19, 1989: The New York Times reports (in an article filed from Barda, Azerbaijan) that a bus full of Armenians from Mir-Bashir to Stepanakert was violently attacked by Azerbaijan youth and had to be rescued by Soviet troops. New York Times, 9/17/89

August 20, 1989: Moscow home service reports that traffic to Nagorno-Karabagh is completely cut off by an Azerbaijan imposed blockade.

November 28, 1989: The USSR Supreme Soviet removes NKAOs special administrative status, reinstating Azerbaijan direct rule.

January 1990: Azerbaijan Forces begin to use the heights of Khojalu as a missile launching point upon the nearby Armenian inhabited areas of Askeran and Getashen (Armenia Proper).

January 13, 1990: Azerbaijan mobs descend upon the Armenian districts of Baku, killing more than 100 Armenians. Thousands of others are raped, wounded, and otherwise assaulted. Tens of thousands of Armenian homes are broken into and plundered. Virtually all remaining Armenians from a previous figure of a quarter million are driven out of Baku, Azerbaijan.

January 14, 1990: Anti-Armenian rallies are held in cities throughout Azerbaijan, including Sumgait, Masally, Aksu, Divichi, Aghdam, Belokani, Zakataly, Sabirabad, Pushkino, Mingechaur, and Kusari in Azerbaijan.

February 14, 1990: According to Interior Ministry Major-General Yevgeny Nechayev, quoted in Komsomolskaya Pravda, corpses have been found buried in a grave and in a sandpit, about 30 miles apart, in northwestern Azerbaijan. Authorities announce they have found six more mutilated corpses in Azerbaijan, bringing to 18 the total discovered in two separate graves earlier in the week. Eleven of the 12 earlier victims, found in Yenikend, were described as handicapped Armenians who had disappeared from the Ganja State Invalids Home on January 24, 1990. Each of the bodies had numerous bullet and knife wounds. Nechayev did not identify the last six by nationality. The Ganja victims appeared to have died after the anti-Armenian pogroms in Baku, Azerbaijan.

October 23, 1990: The Armenian populated village of Berdadzor is subjected to attack by Azeri forces.

December 2, 1990: The water supply of Karabaghs capital, Stepanakert (Azerbaijan SSR), is sabotaged, leaving 60% of the citys population without water. BBC, 12/8/90