Şamaxi soyqirimi (1918 –ci IL) baki 2011

SHAMAKHI GENOCIDE
 (1918) 
BAKU 2011

The book deals with the massacre committ ed by the armed Armenians 
in March-April of 1918 in Shamakhi. The prime objectives of Armenians, 
committ ing this crime with the assistance of the Baku Soviet, were to put 
Baku, rich in natural resources, under the control of the Soviet Russia by 
carrying out ethnic cleansing in Baku and in its suburbs.
Editorial staff 
Fuad Babayev
Tarana Babayeva
Shahin Jamalov
Vali Alibayov
Dayanat Musayev
Ramiz Sevdimaliyev
Language editor
Tural Ahmadov
Project manager
Elkhan Suleymanov, the president of the Associa-
tion for Civil Society Development in Azerbaij an, 
Deputy of Shamakhi
Author 
Maharram Zulfugarli, Doctor of philosophy in 
historical sciences
Scientifi c Editor
Karim Shukurov, Professor, Doctor of historical 
sciences

Preface.......................................................................................
Introduction.............................................................................
The historical roots of Shamakhi genocide..........................
Crimes committ ed by Armenians in Shamakhi in 1918 ....
Conclusion................................................................................
Bibliography .............................................................................
Table of contents
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68
74
80
100
104

65
More than 90 years Armenian diaspora has been disseminating-
partial, most oft en wrong, and even distorted information to the 
world community. Recently, parliaments of some countries and 
communities have recognized or are currently recognizing the 1915 
events as “genocide”. Regretfully, Turkey remained silent until 15 
years ago and assumed that this issue would not be brought to 
agenda by Armenians as time passes. Conversely, Armenian dias-
pora was and still is united in the U.S. and in other countries to this 
end, and thousands of people took this mission as the maintenance 
of their life. By keeping claims on the fabricated Armenian genoci-
de in agenda, they set a goal to protect their nationalities in diff erent 
countries on the one hand, and pursue their demand on compensa-
tion from Turkey and even territorial claims as a means of pressu-
re, on the other. 
Dissemination of biased information in print and online media 
by Armenian diaspora in over 90 years has indeed yielded certa-
in results, thus partial and distorted claims have gradually been ac-
cepted as a mere truth in several countries. 
The prime reason for bringing the 1915 events to the att ention of 
the world community and to the agenda of parliaments of some co-
untries by Armenia and Armenian diaspora is that they make en-
deavor to keep the occupation of Azerbaij ani territories by Russian 
ammunition 19 years ago, more than a million of refugees and IDPs 
and eventually Nagorno-Karabakh problem out of att ention. This 
strategy is implemented meticulously and discreetly. 
Evidently, Armenia and Armenian diaspora make an att empt 
to distract views on the massacre carried out against Azerbaij ani 
Turks in March-April of 1918and on the massacre against 630 civili-
Preface

66
ans, notably women and children, of Khodjaly in 1992. 
The world community should study realities from unbiased so-
urces. To this end, Turkey and Azerbaij an should att ach great im-
portance to this issue and should provide the international com-
munity with undistorted and unchanged sources by publishing the 
archival documents of diff erent countries in useful languages. 
If Armenia and the Armenian diaspora put their faith in the rea-
lities of information and sources they submitt ed to the international 
community so far, then why do they avoid facing documents, sour-
ces and archival documentsof Russia, France, Germany, U.K., U.S., 
Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaij an? Why do they reject Turkish pro-
posal of conducting research of the sources by the commission that 
includes Turkish, Armenian and international researchers? If Arme-
nia and the Armenian diaspora are not concerned about disclosing-
dissemination of partial information to the world community deli-
berately then why Turkish proposal is rejected? 
In most part of the globe, peoples living in neighborhoods fo-
ught each other for a long time and eventually tremendous amount 
of damages and disasters broke out. One of the clear examples is the 
fi ght between Germany and France for ages until the Second World 
War and enormous losses among civilians. However, Germany and 
France were able to establish friendly neighboring relations from 
1950 on, having learned much from sad pages of the history. The 
prerequisite is the willingness of both parties in eliciting truth and 
their persistence of sett ing up friendly relations. 
To set up friendly relations with Azerbaij an and Turkey and es-
tablish peace in the Caucasus, Armenia must withdraw from the 
occupied territories of Azerbaij an by abiding by resolutions un-
conditionally, IDPs must be returned to their homes, and Armenia 
have to give a positive feedback on peaceful resolution of Nagorno-
Karabakh problem. Maintenance of peace and friendly relations 

67
will be in favor of peoples of these countries. None of the countri-
es, including Armenia has the right to hope that Azerbaij an will ac-
cept the occupation of the one fi ft h of its territory and displacement 
of more than a million civilians. 
The Tsarist Russia pursued a policy to create a buff er zone in the 
frontal regions, where Christianity was dominant, with the Ott o-
man empire, with which it was in the state of war for ages, and mo-
reover it aimed to increase the number of Armenian population in 
the Western Caucasus. Thus, Armenians were moved to these re-
gions and the demographic balance was shift ed to their favor. The 
current Nagorno-Karabakh problem emerged as the consequence 
of this policy. 
This publication particularly aims to disclose the massacre com-
mitt ed by Armenians towards Azerbaij ani Turks in March-April of 
1918 and eventually disseminate detailed information on this signi-
fi cant historical event.
Prof. Dr. Hakki Keskin
MP of German Parliament and member of the Parliamentary 
Assembly of the Council of Europe (2005-2009) 

68
The international community is unaware of sett lement of Ar-
menians in the north of Azerbaij an in accordance with the Tsar-
ist Russia’s colonial policy in the territory of Azerbaij an and of 
conduct of genocide against the local populationby their hand in 
1905-1906,  1918-1920,  1948-1953,  and in 1988-1994. The research 
on crimes of Armenian criminals against Azerbaij anis  indicates 
that one of the most terrible crimes was committ ed in March-
April, 1918 in Baku,  Guba,  Shamakhi,  Ismayilli,  Goychay,  Ha-
jigabul,  Kurdamir,  Salyan,  Lankaran, Zangezur,  Nakhiche-
van,  Karabakh,  Agstafa, and so forth. These planned crimes were 
carried out by military forces, which came back from the Russian-
Turkish front in January, 1918 and were composed ofa number of 
Armenians. The prime target of this genocide, conducted against 
the local Muslims under the leadership of Shaumyan, was to take 
control over Azerbaij ani oil and natural resources and to annex it 
to the Soviet Russia by changing its national and religious compo-
sition in Baku and in adjacent regions. During the crimes commit-
ted in 1918, specifi cally in April 1918, 94.000 ton oil was carried, 
while in May it constituted 182.000 ton, in June 466.000, in July 
492.000 accordingly. (1) 
To investigate the crimes committ ed towards the Muslim popu-
lation, the Council of Ministers of Azerbaij an Democratic Republic 
set up Emergency Investigation Commission in June 15, 1918 with 
the representation of members of Gandja District Court Shah-
maliyev Ismail bey, Andrei Fomich Novatsky, and prosecutors 
Nasraddinbey Safi kurdsky, Nikolay Mikhaylovich Mikhaylov, V. 
Gudvillo and Mirza Javad Akhundzada under the leadership of 
Alakbarbey Khasmammadov. 
The assembled documents of the Commission proved that Ar-
Introduction

69
menians carried out planned genocide towards Azerbaij ani popu-
lation. 
The II article of the Convention on Prevention of and Punish-
ment for the Genocide adopted with the resolution 260 (III) dated 
December 9, 1948 of the U.N. General Assembly states:
“genocide” (massacre-author) is meant where actions are taken 
towards partial or entire elimination of national, ethnic, racial or 
religious group: 
a) 
Killing of any member of the group
b) 
Posing severe damage to health or mental damage to a 
member of the group
c) 
Intentionally creating a condition for a member of the group 
whose physical existence is partially or completely under threat 
d) 
Taking any measure for the group that intends prevention 
of birth
e) 
Handing over a child from one group to another by force 
Although the genocide committ ed towards Azerbaij anis by Ar-
menians in 1918 was confi rmed by the Emergency Investigation 
Commission, regretfully punishment of criminals was not real-
ized. Regretfully, the amnesty in February 1920 and the occupa-
tion of Azerbaij an by the Soviet Russia in April 27, 1920 hampered 
punishment of the criminals.
Aft er the occupation, instead of the investigation of the issue, 
“26 Baku Commissars” was presented to Azerbaij ani people as a 
false historical legend with an instruction of Moscow. (2) During 
the Soviet period the main organizers of crimes committ ed against 
Azerbaij anis were presented as national heroes, and monuments 
were erected to honor them. (3) Moreover, extensive campaign 
was carried out to remove Azerbaij ani and Turkishsoldiers, who 
sacrifi ced themselves to save local residents from Armenian and 
Bolshevik forces, from the memory, and even those who made 

70
an att empt to restore their graves were strictly punished. For in-
stance, the att itude to the grave of the lonely Turkish offi
  cer, may-
or Izzet Afandy, who sacrifi ced himself in the fi ght in July 18, 1918 
in the so-called Ajidere between Shamakhi and Mereze, proves it. 
Head of the Samakhi district, who laid his gravestone, was killed 
in 1928, and the grave was entirely destroyed. Later Shamakhi 
residents Mahammad, and aft erwards, Babakhan Rizakhanov re-
stored the grave. For this reason, Babakhan Rizakhanov was ar-
rested in 1964. Finally, the grave was repaired in 1993, and in May 
10, 2000 the monument was erected in the honor of 1130 Turkish 
soldiers who sacrifi ced themselves in the 1918 Caucasus move-
ment. National poets Bakhtiyar Vahabzade and Gabil dedicated 
their poems “Lonely Grave” and “Turkish Grave” to honor Turk-
ish soldier. (4) 
Azerbaij an Republic created a favorable condition to investi-
gate the case aft er the restoration of independence in October 18, 
1991. The national leader Heydar Aliyev’s decree ”on Genocide of 
Azerbaij anis“ (March 26, 1998) plays a crucial role in this regard. 
It says “the genocide of Azerbaij anis was carried out with special 
brutality in Baki, Shamakhi, Guba, Karabakh, Zengezur, Nakiche-
van, Lenkeran and in other regions of Azerbaij an. Civilians were 
massively killed, villages were burnt, national and cultural monu-
ments were utt erly destroyed… only to one of them, to March 1918 
genocide, was there an att empt to politically assess. The Republic 
of Azerbaij an as a successor of Azerbaij an Democratic Republic 
regards the duty of political assessment of the genocide as the his-
torical judgment. (5) 
To proceed investigation on 1918 events, three volume materi-
als of Emergency Investigation Commission of General Prosecu-
tor of the Republic of Azerbaij an on criminal case, kept in National 
Archive of the Republic of Azerbaij an on genocide carried out to-

71
wards Azerbaij anis by Armenians, were submitt ed to the Heydar 
Aliyev Foundation to be used in the work of “Genocide Memorial 
Complex” and disseminate to international community. 
Within the project of HeydarAliyevFoundation “the Address of 
Tolerance: Azerbaij an” reconstruction of Juma mosque, burned by 
Armenians in 1918, is one of the positive measures taken in resto-
ration of historical justice. Special att ention of the President of the 
Republic of Azerbaij an, Ilham Aliyev, to reconstruction of Juma 
mosque, along with other monuments, is the care taken towards 
the restoration of historical justice. 
The President of the Republic of Azerbaij an IlhamAliyev not-
ed in his address to Azerbaij anis on the occasion of the 31 March 
Genocide of Azerbaij anis: “I assure you that with the help of the 
unity and solidarity of our nation and political will of Azerbaij ani 
government, we will achieve our goals, including restoration of 
territorial integrity and sovereignty and exposition of those who 
committ ed the genocide and those who stir hatred and hostility 
among nations.” (6) 
Diaspora organizations operating in diff erent countries of the 
world function eff ectively in disseminating truth about the crimes 
committ ed  against  Azerbaij anis. The adopted statement in the 
annual meeting of the Coordination Council of Azerbaij ani  and 
Turkish Diaspora organizations (Germany, Berlin, March 27, 2008) 
reads as follows: “...acts of genocide committ ed against the Turk-
ish people in diff erent regions of Azerbaij an in March 1918 by the 
Armenian chauvinistic nationalists is one of the most horrible 
crimes... during the events 50 thousand Azerbaij anis were killed 
with brutality in Baku, Shamakhi, Mugan, Guba and Lankaran, 10 
thousands of people were expelled from their lands. Only in Baku 
the number of people killed by the Armenian terrorists constituted 
30 thousand. 58 villages in Shamakhi, 122 in Guba, 150 in moun-

72
tainous part of Karabakh, 115 in Zangezur, 211 in Irevan province, 
92 villages in the province of Kars have been completely razed to 
the ground... in February of 1992, a horrifi c genocide, Khodjaly, 
was committ ed by the Armenian nationalists.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, European conven-
tion on Protectionof Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, 
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of 
Genocide adopted by the resolution 260 (III) of the UN General 
Assembly dated 9 December 1948, the International Criminal 
Court Status (article.6) and other international legal acts are legal 
documents for the recognition of 31 March and Khojaly genocides 
as international crimes.
Coordination Council of the Azerbaij ani and Turkish Diaspora 
organizations addresses the world community to condemn ter-
ror and genocide acts committ ed against Turkic nations, notably 
against Azerbaij anis by Armenian nationalists and call the world 
countries and international organizations to objectively assess the 
situation”.
As a result of the productive activity of diaspora organizations 
in April 1, 2009, the Nevada state of US recognized March 31, 1918 
as the memorial day of the killing of innocent Azerbaij anis.The 
Governor of the state, Jim Gibbons, made a relevant decision aft er 
careful consideration of documents and historical evidences sub-
mitt ed to his offi
  ce. The document does also emphasize the territo-
rial integrity of Azerbaij an and Nagorno-Karabakh as an integral 
part of Azerbaij an.
Numerous books and articles were published and some materi-
als were placed in webpages on crimes committ ed by Armenians 
in diff erent regions of Azerbaij an in 1918. (7) 
Some Western European and US historians have writt en several 
articles on Azerbaij ani history covering 1918-1920 periods. (8) 

73
Along with applauding the work done in this sphere, it should 
be noted that it is of great importance to disseminate the informa-
tion not only to local readers but also to international community, 
particular to West European citizens. To this end, the Association 
for Civil Society Development in Azerbaij an (ACSDA) intends to 
publish a book in several languages within the framework of the 
project “1918 Shamakhi genocide” in order to disseminate the re-
alities in the international arena.
The ACSDA has implemented the so called two projects “Kho-
jaly genocide” and “Garadaghly tragedy” in this regard (for fur-
ther information please visit www.avciya.az). This can contribute 
to the resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict and to the restora-
tion of territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaij an. The As-
sociation is keen on continuing its eff orts in this direction in the 
years to come.

74
Historical roots of Shamakhi Genocide
Shamakhi, the ancient cultural center of Azerbaij an, endowed-
Khagani Shirvani, Feleki Shirvani, Imadeddin Nasimi, Haji Zey-
nalabdin Shirvani, Seid Azim Shirvani, Mirza Alakbar Sabir, Mo-
hammad Hadi, Abbas Sahhat and other fi gures to the world, and 
has always been in the limelight of invaders. Historical facts prove 
that Russian aggressive and imperial policy backed the brutality 
committ ed by Armenians in diff erent parts of Azerbaij an includ-
ing Shamakhi. 
The Russian aggressive movement to Azerbaij ani  territories 
from the end of ninth century on laid the beginning of this policy. 
In 914 more than 50 thousand Russians on 500 ships, 100 persons 
in each, came to the costs of the Caspian sea. Shirvanshah Ali ibn-
Heysem fought against the enemy not only on land, but also at 
sea. (9) In 1032–1033 Russians captured Shamakhi as the result 
of the destructive att ack like “Barda tragedy”, and looted the city 
in 10 days with the killing of 10 thousand residents. 668 years af-
ter this tragedy Peter the fi rst used Armenians, who were happily 
ready to serve Russian imperial policy, to continue Russian oc-
cupation. He sent the propagandist of the “Armenian case” Israeli 
Orini to Shamakhi in 1701. Later Peter the fi rst att acked the Cas-
pian litt oral regions in 1722 under the pretext of killing of Russian 
traders during the Shamakhi revolt in 1721. He primarily att acked 
Shamakhi region. This movement was offi
  cially called “Shamakhi 
movement” in diplomatic talks of St. Petersburg at that time. As 
the following of the Russian aggressive policy there were many 
Armenians in Russian troops att acked in Azerbaij an in 1796 under 
the leadership of V.Zubov. In October of the same year V.Zubov 
moved the headquarters of the Russian troops to New Shamak-
hi. But the death of Yekaterina the second in November 1796 and 

75
coming to power of Pavel the fi rst resulted in withdrawal of Rus-
sian troops form the Caucasus, and thus there was a break in oc-
cupation until 1801. (10) 
Att ack of Russian troops to Jar-Balaken in March 1803 and oc-
cupation of Gandja in January 3, 1804 brought about expansion of 
aggressive policy of the Tsarist regime in Azerbaij an.
Tsar Russia brought Shamakhi khanate to dependence on the 
basis of agreement dated December 27, 1805. According to the 
agreement Shamakhi khanate had to give 8000 chervon (Russian 
currency of the time) to the Russian treasury. 
Aft er 1804–1813 the fi rst,1826–1828 the second Russian-Iranian 
wars Russian occupation of northern Azerbaij an and sett lement of 
Armenians in this territory led to further tragedies. 
In accordance with the Turkmenchay agreement (February 10, 
1828), singed as the consequence of the second Russian–Iranian 
war, Armenians, coming from Iran and Turkey, were sett led  in 
diff erent regions of northern Azerbaij an, including in Shamakhi 
pertinent to Russian imperial policy. The main target of the sett le-
ment of Armenians in the villages Sagiyan, Meyseri, Kalakhana, 
Zarkhı of Shamakhi was to control Muslim population with help 
of Armenians. On the basis of this policy Malakans from Russian 
central regions were sett led in six villages of Shamakhi.
At the beginning of the XIX centuryArmenians constituted 
9.37% of the population, whereas at the outset of XX century it 
reached 32.6%. Approximately in 100 years the number of Ar-
menians in northern Azerbaij an, including the territory of Iravan 
khanate increased 24 times and reached 1,211,145 persons in 1916. 
(11) 
As to the writing of N.N. Shafrov, one million Armenians out of 
one million three hundred thousand living in Transcaucasia did 
not belong to local residents and they were inhabited by us. (12) 

76
Earthquakes erupted in diff erent periods, specifi cally in 1191, 
1667, 1856, 1859, 1861, 1872 and 1902 resulted in numerous hu-
man losses and destructions. 1902 earthquake brought about 200 
human losses, 16 000 remained homeless, 4000 houses, 6 mosques 
were destroyed and market place was burnt. Hostile att itude of 
Tsar regime to local Muslim population was noticeable. Merely 
3 doctors and nurse rendered assistance to 16000 residents, sur-
vived the earthquake. Having understood that the government 
would not provide any help, the residents embarked the rescue 
operations by themselves, and even rescued a-12 year old resident 
Ummi Muslim aft er the ninth day of the earthquake. (13) 
With the instigation of Tsarist secret police department, Muslim 
bloodshed was committ ed by Armenians in Baku in 1905-1906 (6-9 
February, 1905) and in other regions, while a serious confrontation 
was not encountered in Shamakhi. Despite this, the Armenians 
in Shamakhi rendered all kinds of fi nancial assistance to crimi-
nals who killed Muslims in Tbilisi, Kazakh, Ganja, Shusha, and in 
Jabrayil. 
The Russian Consul in the Ott oman Empire V.Mayevsky has 
writt en about the bloody events of the time: “in this period (1904-
1906) weakening of Russian authority, sometimes its absence, was 
noticeable everywhere…the events taken place in eastern Trans-
caucasia might have happened as an outcome of “criminal activ-
ity of the government” and criminal activity of “Dashnakstun”, 
which is the main organizer of turmoil.” (14) 
The Tsarist Russian policy pursued in Azerbaij an “divide and 
rule” not only stirred hatred between Armenians and Muslims, 
but also instigated hostility among Muslims. To this end, Shia 
school was established in December 13, 1847 in Tbilisi, where-
as Sunni school was founded in January 15, 1849. The so-called 
“Ali” school, “Omar” school network was expanded in Shamakhi, 

77
Guba, Sheki and other cities soon aft erwards. Criticizing the Tsar-
ist policy, U. Hajibeyov wrote in “Irshad” newspaper in 1907: “the 
Russian government…above all closed our eyes, and aft erwards 
determined appointment of Sheykhulislam (head of the religious 
institution), establishment of “Omar” school and “Ali” school, 
which further expanded the gap between Shiis and Sunnis”. (15) 
The existence of non-confi dence of the Tsarist regime to Azer-
baij anis was also encountered in the fact that Azerbaij anis  were 
not enrolled into the army. This in fact brought about inability of 
using ammunition and put them in a vulnerable situation during 
the turmoil. In this regard M. E. Rasulzade wrote “one of the great 
damages imposed on Azerbaij ani Turks by the Tsarist regime was 
the deprivation of their enrollment in the military service. By do-
ing this the tsarist regime wanted to marginalize the Turks”. (16) 
As the consequence of imperial policy of the Tsarist Russia and 
the Soviet Russia and instigation between nations and religions 
and their ultimate destruction horrible crimes were committ ed by 
Armenians towards Azerbaij anis in 1918.
The result of the elections held to the Baku Soviet in October 
22. 1917 and to the Assembly in Transcaucasia in November26-28, 
1917 proved that Bolsheviks did not have any strong public sup-
port in the South Caucasus. Even the Bolsheviks, who took power 
in Baku with false pledges, could not possess complete control 
over the city until the March events in 1918. They could not stop 
the activity of the city Duma and of National Council, could not 
disarm national troops and break the resistance of bourgeoisie. 
The Baku Soviet set a goal to remove “Musavat” party in order to 
take the real power in the city. For this reason the Baku Soviet in-
creased its pressure on Muslim population that backed this party 
and thus it used Armenians in implementing this policy. 
In January–March, 1918 Armenian nationalist parties enhanced 

78
their diff erent provocation and blackmail campaign to increase 
hostility towards Muslim population. The Baku Soviet under the 
leadership of Shaumyan promoted Armenians to high-ranking 
posts in the Soviet agencies. 
The head of the Baku Commune, established in April 1918, 
Shaumyan, did not only recognize the right of self-determi-
nation, but also did not accept using the word “Azerbaij an”. 
“Bakinskyrabochy”newspaper, Amiryan as the editor, did also 
mock at this word. (17) 
Aft er the elimination of the Caucasian frontt he Russian soldiers 
sold their weapons very cheaply to Armenians. As there was fam-
ine in Russia the majority of soldiers prefer to stay in Baku. Ar-
menian nationalist party “Dashnaksutun”declared the necessity 
to seize the power in Baku until a week remained to the March 
massacre. Under this circumstance the Muslim population set up 
self-defense forces in Ganja, Baku andLankaran, however the pro-
cess did not gather momentum.
Western powers exacerbated the situation by their eff ort to use 
Armenian military forces to their own interests, and thus to be-
ing indiff erent to the tragedy of local population. The confi dential 
information of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs of the United King-
dom, dated January 4, 1918, clearly refl ected the interest of the 
British in the South Caucasus. This document att ached a special 
importance to the propaganda against Turkey. Mr. P. Kok’s report 
stated: ”The model of propaganda among CaucasusMuslims is 
simple. We shouldurge the king of Saudi Arabia to send infl uential 
delegation to the Caucasus and receive support from Muslims of 
Caucasus and Crimea to liberate holy sites of Arabs from Turkish 
invaders. Apart from that they should be encouraged to continue 
war and keep great number of Turks in the Caucasus front”. (18) 
The Armenian armed forces responded to the agreement 

79
reached between religious leaders in order to prevent killing dur-
ing the confl ict: ”Muslim religious leaders may reconcile with Ar-
menian religious leaders, however Armenian nation is willing to 
wage a war towards Muslims and Britain will support Armenia in 
this fi ght”. (19) 
Pro-British propaganda of Armenian politicians aft er the col-
lapse of the Russian Empire led to the change of att itude of Mus-
lims towards the British. Muslims addressed to the Transcaucasian 
Seim and demanded to stop negotiations with the British govern-
ment and expressed their dissatisfaction against the arrival of the 
British military forces to Caucasus.
In January 22, 1918 Captain Noel wrote about deterioration of 
relations: “when I was here 6 weeks ago head of the Azerbaij ani 
community behaved us friendly. Now, upon return to Baku, I no-
tice the change of att itude as it was replaced with the hostility. It 
can be explained as the follows:
1. 
The common view on our support to Armenian interests.
2. 
The facts show that the Armenians emphasize this view 
and easily abuse it. 
3. 
Priority given to the establishment of Armenian national 
forces. I assume that it overlaps with the view of Russian head-
quarters “we back Armenians, but do not count on Muslims”. To 
my mind this policy is wrong and it will most likely lead to disas-
ter. (20) 
Dashnaks, pursuing their cunning policy, preferred to achieve 
their target with the help of Bolsheviks in March–April 1918 since 
the western forces were away.

80
Conditions created aft er the bourgeoisier evolution in February 
1917 positively infl uenced the development of national conscious-
ness in “Prison of nations” of Russian satellites, including in Azer-
baij an. Bolsheviks’ declaration of “the right to self-determination” 
of nations aft er the 1917 October revolution cultivated some hopes 
for nations to establish their independent states. However, imme-
diately aft er the October revolutiondivergence between the Bol-
sheviks’ words and deeds dragged the nations, who strived for 
independence, into tragedy.
Bolsheviks commenced to pursue genocidal policy against the 
local population in order to hamper the independence of the oil-
rich Azerbaij an. The view expressed “not Azerbaij anis, but Azer-
baij an is necessary for us” by Communist leaders in the March 
massacre of 1918and 20 January massacre of 1990 clearly refl ects 
the essence of this policy. At present, the main reason for having 
more than one million Azerbaij ani refugees in their homeland, 
commitment of Khojaly, Garadaghli, Agdaban and other trag-
edieson the basis of the genocide in Nagorno-Karabakh confl ict, 
occupation of the 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaij an is the 
continuation of this policy. 
Member of the Cadet party B. Baykov, who previously lived in 
Baku, but later immigrated to Germany, wrote in his memories on 
the main reasons of the March of 1918 massacre: “Baku entirely 
supplied the Tsarist Russia with oil. The majority of oil was car-
ried to Russian cities through Volga river. The operation of ships 
in Volga river began in the mid of March with the melting of ice 
in Volga river. Urgent task of the Bolsheviks was to occupy Baku 
soon. “ (21)  
Crimes committ ed by 
Armenians in Shamakhi in 1918

81
From March of 1918 on,Armenians played an active role in the 
genocide against Azerbaij anis in Baku province under the slogan 
of fi ght of Shaumyan-led Baku Soviet against counter-revolution-
ary elements. 
Starting from the end of 1917 and beginning of 1918, Stepan 
Lalayev, with the instruction of S.Shaumyan,secretly supplied Ar-
menians, living in Shamakhi, with weapons and ammunition, in 
order to prepare them for crimes against the local population. Sev-
en thousand Armenian soldiers were brought to Baku from diff er-
ent fronts and were incorporated into military forces of the Baku 
Soviet. The Armenian scholar G. Avetisyan notes on this matt er: 
“there were 4 brigades of the Red Army, which composed of 25 
divisions and 18 thousand fi ghters, of which 70 percent were Ar-
menians.” (22) 
According to the document made up by the Investigation Com-
mission, 15 vehicles with guns in January, 60 vehicleswith guns 
in the middle of March, and 2000 Armenian soldiers were sent to 
Shamakhi.
 On March 28, 1918, chairman of Yelizavetpol (Ganja) Muslim 
National Council, Khajmammadov, sent a lett er to the chairman of 
the government of the South Caucasus noting that the Bolsheviks 
had sent 2000 well-armed soldiers with a machine gun from Baku 
to Shamakhi. The soldiers destroyed more than 15 Muslim villages 
along the road and annihilated the city of Shamakhi. Thousands of 
Muslims, including women and children were killed. It is impos-
sible to describe the tragedy. Violence and abuse were rampant. 
Emergency assistance of the government is seriously needed. (23)  
With the demand of Azerbaij ani representatives the South Cau-
casianSeim allocated 100 thousand manat money, troops and cav-
alry units, two planes, armored train, a lot of weapons and am-
munition against the Baku Soviet. At the beginning of April, 1918, 

82
roughly 2000 well-armed soldiers under the command of Magalov 
captured Hajigabul station att acking from the direction of Tbilisi 
and Ganja. At the same time, Najmaddin Gotsinsky’s forces at-
tacked towards Baku from Dagestan direction. (24) 
Despite this, it was impossible to prevent Azerbaij ani massacre 
by Armenians.
Regretfully, the exact dates of Shamakhi genocide have not 
been indicated in books or articles. Some books and articles de-
scribe that is was broke out in March 18, 1918, whereas in others 
in April, or on April 3-16. Comparative analysis of existing sources 
can determine the exact date of the crime committ ed. The research 
done shows that Shamakhi genocide had taken place with short 
intervals in several stages even before the massacres committ ed in 
Baku and Guba (the dates in brackets are in new calendar dates-
author):
Phase I–beginning of March-15 (27) March, 1918-the year (it 
started with the advancement of 400 Armenian soldiers from Kur-
demir to Shamakhi, it was temporarily suspended with the agree-
ment of the religious leaders in 15 (27) March).
Phase II–18 (30) March-28 March (April 09) 1918. (it started on 
March 18 (30) 1918 and was temporarily prevented with the lib-
eration of Shamakhi by the troops of Ziyadkhanov in March 28 
(April 9) ) 
Phase III-April 6 (April 18) -July 20 (August 01) 1918. (it be-
gan with the departure of Ziyadkhanov’s troop from Shamakhi 
and with the recapture of Shamakhi by Armenians six days aft er 
March 31, that is from April 6 (1918) and continued until the lib-
eration of Shamakhi by Caucasian Islamic Army of Turkey and by 
the National Army in 20 July (August 01) ).
The tragedies continued aft er the fall of Azerbaij an Democratic 
Republic and with the recapture of Shamaki by XI Russian Army 

83
in 29 April, 1920. It should be noted that from the spring 1920 to 
the beginning of 1921 more than 4000 civilians undergone to po-
litical repression and were shot dead. (25) Repressions continued 
in the following years. Academician Z. Bunyadov writes in this 
book “Red Terror”: “roughly 70-80 thousandAzerbaij aniintellec-
tuals were killed in the years 1936–1937.” (26) 
The crimes committ ed by Armenians against the civilians in Sh-
emakhi began with arrival of 400 Armenian soldiers, coming from 
Russian–Turkish front at the beginning of March 1918, to Sha-
makhi from Kurdamir. Having been unaware of their goal, Baku 
Muslim Committ ee informed the head of the Shamakhi city Tey-
murbey Khudaverdiyev and requested him to render assistance 
to Armenian solders coming to Shamakhi. To this end, the del-
egation was sent to Agsu to meet them. However, the delegation 
was informed that the Armenian solders had att acked vulnerable 
villages, such as Bidjo and Lengebiz. During the shooting several 
Muslims and Armenians were shot dead. Armenians immediately 
informed Baku Armenian Committ ee about this event. Thus the 
Committ ee sent the well-equipped 3000 Armenians to Shamakhi 
to completely remove the local population. Having known of this 
event the local department of Muslim Committ ee sent the head of 
the Shamakhi province Hadji Jamalbeyov, head of the province 
Abdulkhalig Afandi Afandiyev and Armenian bishop to conduct 
talks to them. Then the delegation asked them to go back.Head of 
the Armenian criminal gang responded “we have come here to ut-
terly destroy Shamakhi and entirely kill the Muslim population”.
Aft erwards the delegation returned to Shamakhi and searched 
for way-outs. The following day Armenian bishop Bagrat and the 
representative of Malakans Karabanov came to Shamakhi depart-
ment of Muslim Committ ee and pledged to coexist with Azer-
baij anis in peace and friendship and never fi ght with them. The 

84
next day, at 06 a.m. in March 18, 1918, the Armenians surrounded 
Shamakhi and began shooting using 100 machine guns and other 
ammunitions. Aft erwards, fi re began in several parts of the city. In 
the evening of the same day the vulnerable population of the city 
was forced to surrender. Later Armenians began to loot the city 
and kill the civilians. The remaining constructions were burned 
in the city and the cemeteries adjacent to the city were abused. 
The savage Armenians used special brutalities in Shamakhi. That 
is, they cut off  legs, arms, noses, and ears, chopped off  eyes, cut 
bellies of the dead people, burnt and eventually killed them with 
special brutalities. 
Shamakhi events was described in the article, number 19 of 
1918 “Azerbaij an” newspaper, and was noted that the crime com-
mitt ed towards Shamakhi Muslims by S. Lalayev was unprece-
dented. The brutality of Lalayev, who headed Shamakhi massa-
cre, reached to the extent that even T. Amirov and I. Bogomolov 
showed their dissatisfaction. 
The address of I. Bogomolov to A. Chaparidze reads: “Once 
again I ask you to arrest savage Lalayev. He killed a number of 
women and children and looted houses. When Amirov wanted 
to arrest him he evaded. All confi rmed that he burnt the mosque 
and eventually killed many women”. But Chaparidze did not give 
any feedback to this address because he was aware of objection of 
Shaumyan, who supported Lalayev, to the chairman of Military 
Investigation Commission Kojemyakoy on the arrest of Lalayev. 
(27) 
Along with the anti-Turk and anti-Muslim policy of Russian 
and Armenian nationalists in committ ing the crimes with brutal-
ity in Shamakhi, S. Lalayev’s personal hatred and hostility to local 
population played a certain role. He committ ed unprecedented 
brutalities against the civilians in Shamakhi in order to avenge his 

85
father and uncle, who were killed in the Armenian–Muslim tur-
moil in 1905–1096. However, facts demonstrate that his father and 
uncle were victims of their own criminal activity in 1905 -1906. 
According to the records of Baku Mikhailov hospital, in Febru-
ary 6, 1905, terror group killed 18 civilians and injured 33 people 
with the support of Armenian magnates Balabek Lalayev, Artyom 
Babayants, Isay Terosipov and others. 34 of them were Azerbaij an-
is, while 6 were Russians and others belonged to other nationali-
ties. The criminal gang killed roughly 100 civilians and wounded 
others in the following days. (28) 
The extent of the Armenian crimes in Shamakhi was so unprec-
edented that even the Bolshevik press of the time could not hide 
its att itude to this tragedy. However, they described these atroci-
ties against the Muslim population as “some injustice was done to 
local population”. 
Thousands of Muslims were killed in Shamakhi in a few days 
under the leadership of S. Lalayev and T. Amirov. The Muslims 
were included prominent people of Shamakhi, such as Molla 
Jafarguluakhund, head of the city Teymurbey Khudaverdov, 
deputy to the fi rst state Duma from ShamakhiMammedAliyev, 
Molla Haji Mehyeddinefendi, Hajibaba Abbasov, Ashraf Haji-
yev, Haji Abdul Khalil Ahmedov, Agha Ahmed Ahmedov, Haji 
Gany Zeynal , Haji Abdul Hussein Zeynalov, Haji Israfi l Mam-
madov, Mir Ibrahim Seidov, Haji Ibrahim Salamov, Haji Abdul- 
Gasim Gasimov, Eyyubaga Veysov, Zeynab Veysova, Aliabbasbey 
Ibrahimbeyov, Alakbar Gadirbeyov, Abdurrehimagha Agalarov, 
Zekeriyye eff endi Mehdi Khalil, Ziyaddin Abdullayev, Haji 
Molla Hasan Zeynalov, Mahmud Hajiagaoglu and many others. 
During this period, 13 district mosques and well-known holy site 
Juma mosque, one of the most ancientones in the South Cauca-
sus and in the Middle East, built in the 743 were burnt by Arme-

86
nians. This mosque was dear to Muslims as a holy site and as an 
ancient monument. Many women and children were taken to the 
refuge in the mosque. They thought that Armenians could not 
dear to att ack the mosque with the presence of Molla Jafargulu 
Akhund, who had great authority among the population. How-
ever, the Armenian gangsters chopped off  akhund’s eyes and cut 
off  his tongue, ear and nose as they entered the mosque. More-
over, they cut his entire skin as he was alive and shot him dead 
aft erwards. Later,the civilians were put together into the mosque 
and were burnt. (29) 
 Diff erent information is available on the number of those who 
was killed in the March-April, 1918 massacre in Shamakhi. Some 
sources indicate the number as 7 thousand, some 8 thousand, 
while others 8-12, and even 40 thousand. The literature writt en 
in exile in 1920 noted up to 12 thousand,and even 17 thousand in 
a diff erent source, as the number of those who was killed in Sha-
makhi. (30) 
 The Emergency Investigation Commission established by 
Azerbaij an Democratic Republic determined the number of civil-
ians, killed by Armenians in the March-April, 1918in 58 villages 
of Shamakhi, where predominantly Azerbaij anis lived, as the fol-
lowings. 
№
Name of the 
villages
 The number of human losses
Wounded
Male
Female
Children
 1
Jayirli
40
20
15
 4
 2
Arabgadim
200
100
78
 No
 3
Jamjamli
15
5
 6
 No
 
4
Mırtı
4
 
1
 
-
 5
Talısh -Malik
11
4
 1
 -

87
 6
Mirikend
8
9
 2
 No
 7
Sharadil
10
5
 5
 No
 8
Gushchu
192
115
25
 No
 9
Shikhmazid
10
5
3
 No
 10
Upper Chagan
1
-
-
 -
 11
Agabayli
7
3
4
 No
 12
Garavalli
40
50
30
 No
 13
BarbarNavahı
15
10
5
No
 14
Gorus -Chaparlı
10
15
10
 1
 15
Kurdamir
25
-
-
 -
 16
Gonagkend
25
5
4 
 No
 17
Ovjulu
5
10
12
 No
 18
Bagırlı
80
150
140
 No
 19
Takali
360
412
150
 No
 20
Hajılı
40
60
30
 No
 21
Dilman
300
235
50
 No
 22
Kalva
250
150
100
 2
 23
Khatman
60
40
20
 No
 24
Surakhanı
11
3
6
 No
 25
Khasigara
46
20
16
 No
 26
Tirgan
300
40
20
 No
 27
Talıshnuru
20
5
-
 -
 28
Serdakar
8
12
8
 No
 29
Zergeva
40
4
5
 No
 30
Khankendi
12
8
-
 No
 31
Tabiya
12
3
2
 No
 32
Makahı
6
1
1
 
No

88
 33
Taglabiyan
7
22
7
 No
 34
Girdivan
10
5
7
 No
 35
Kalarag
1
-
-
 -
 36
Bizlan
50
30
20
 No
 37
Muji
150
50
25
 No
 38
Gıraltan
30
20
21
 No
 39
Pirgarachukha
4
3
5
 No
 40
Sulut
38
1
4
 -
 41
Zeyva
30
20
32
 No
 42
Nuran
30
50
37
 No
 43
Nuydi
40
7
10
 No
 44
Gashad
50
40
27
 No
 45
Sundi
250
-
-
 -
 46
Shıkhlar
4
-
-
 -
 47
Balka
16
-
-
 -
 48
Agsu
200
-
-
 -
 49
Gamali
9
18
16
 -
 50
Malik chobanı
10
-
-
 -
 51
Chukhanlı
52
-
-
 -
 52
Gurbanchı
93
-
 -
 -
 53
Maraza
300
-
-
 -
 54
Nabır
60
-
-
 
-
 55
Garaduzlu
8
-
-
 -
 56
Arabshahverdi
22
-
-
 -
 57
ChaylıVahidbeyli
5
-
-
 -
 58
Shikhzerli
?
-
-
 -
Total
3632
1771
956
 7

89
According to the assessment of experts on records in the ar-
chive, Armenians killed 8027 people in 53 villages of Shamakhi, of 
whom 4190 constituted male and 2560 female and 1277 children. 
According to our assessment, the total material damage caused to 
these villages was 339.5 millionmanat of the time. Another source 
indicates that Armenians killed 7 thousand civilians in 72 villages 
of Shamakhi district, of whom 1653 were female and 965 children.  
(31)  
During this period, there were 120 villages of Shamakhidistrict, 
86 of which were exposed to the Armenian aggression. Evidently, 
due to the cease of function, the Commission was not able to col-
lect information on massacres in the remaining 33 villages. Vil-
lages, on Shamakhi district, exposed to massacre at the time are 
currently located in the areas of Shamakhi, Gobustan, Kurdemir, 
Agsu and Ismayilli regions. 
The 86 villages where Armenians committ ed crimes in Sha-
makhidistrictin 1918 are as follows: 
Gabristandistrict (Gobustan) (19 villages) - Merezeli, Shikhlar, 
Chukhanlı, Sundi, Merzendiye, Nabur, Tek-Haji Mammed Hus-
sein, Yekekhana Talib, Gurbanchı, Arabshahverdi, Arabshalbash, 
Jem-Jemli, Sıkhzerli, Garajuzlu, Tesi, Tekle-Mirzebaba, Bekle, 
Chayirli, Arabgadim.
Madrasa district (41 villages) -Guyzi, Chayli, Mirikend, Mu-
ganli, Mırtı, Talysh-Malik-Umud, Sheredil, Garavelli-Vahidbey, 
Meljek, Khınıslı, Agabeyli, Avtahi, Bidjo, Alpout, Osmanbeyli, 
Lengebiz, Geshed, Kechidinmez, Charhan, Nuydu, Boyat, Adnalı, 
Kurdemij 
, Gonagkend, Hemyeli, Jabanı, Chayli Bakhishbey, 
Avakhıl, Upper Chagan, Dedegunesh, Lower Chagan, Engekharan, 
Gegeli, Javanshir, Akhsu, Sheymezid, Goruz-Chaparlı, Bortor-
Navahı, Bagırlı, Ovchulu, Goyler. 
Goshundistrict (26 villages) -Nugedi, Nuran, Zeyla, Pur-Ga-

90
rachukha, Surakhani, Kichatan, Koleybugut, Shabian, Machagi, 
Taglabiyan, Keleraraj, Koyurdivan, Pir Abdul-Gasim, Bizlyan, 
Mudji, Gachiman, Dilman, Kelva (Nevla), Hatman, Hosa-dara, 
Sulut, Tirjan, Talysh-Nuri, Hon-kend, Sardagar, Zargava. (32)