THEMATIC CATALOGUE A

proposed to create the Zemstvos, based on the geographic, climatic, historical-political and ethnic features. One of the versions assumed division of Yelizavetpol Province into two sections with the Armenian section of Gandzak where the Armenians constituted the majority of the populace, including Karabagh (Artsakh), Zangezur, Gardman with the administrative center of the Armenian part of Yelizavetpol, right bank of the River Gandzak and the Moslem part of the Province which basically included the lowland districts with the left bank section of Yelizavetpol as its center. This version was approved by the Interim Government but its implementation was disrupted as the result of the October Revolution in 1917.

ARMENIAN MASSACRE IN SHUSHI (1905): The massacre was perpetrated in August of 1905. Despite the self-defense of the Armenians led by Sargis Meghrabian, major harm was done to the Armenian part of the town. Numerous buildings were burnt and the rich houses and stores were robbed. According to rough estimations, around 130 Armenians were killed. Suffice to the advantage in number, the Turkish Tatars were also supported by the local and province authorities. Nevertheless, as the result of the resolute and well-organized resistance of the Armenians they were the first to propose cease-fire.

ARMENIANS OF AZERBAIJAN, together with the Moslem population, represented one of the state nations of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic, "the indivisible union of the Moslems and Armenians" (cf.: Decree of the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan "On Establishment of Nagorno-Karabagh Autonomous Oblast" of July 7, 1923). During the Soviet period the policy run by the Bolsheviks in the East served as a sanction for the Azeri Turks to force the Armenians out from Azerbaijan. Over 1,5 million Armenians now live outside Azerbaijan who consider Azerbaijan as their homeland.

ARMENIAN CULTURAL UNION OF BAKU was established in 1906 in Baku upon the initiative and with the financial assistance of Constantine Khatisian, an engineer and manufacturer (1864-1913) who chaired the Union till his death. The Union had literature, drama, education and publishing departments, but its performance encompassed a wide rage of activities. The Union ceased its performance in 1918, after the occupation of Baku by the Turkish troops and Turkish Tatars when the property of the Union was robbed and given to fire.

ARMENIAN EPARCHIC SEMINARY OF KARABAGH: The Seminary was founded in 1838 in Shushi thanks to the efforts of the spiritual leader of Karabagh Metropolitan Baghdasar Hasan-Jalalian. The Seminary was maintained basically thanks to donations. In the curriculum a significant role was given to natural sciences. The classrooms were refurbished with modern technical equipment. It also had a rich library. Students belonging to various social groups were enrolled in the Seminary. In 1892 the number of the students was about 500. In conformity with its statutes, the Seminary trained both future clergymen and teachers. At different times various famous pedagogues, philologists, writers taught there, including P. Shanshian, S. Mandinian, P. Proshian, Gh.Aghayan, L. Abeghian, etc. Many of its graduates had their contribution to various spheres of life: historian Leo, writer Mouratsan, public figure K. Melik-Shahnazarian, pedagogue A. Bagatrian, prominent figures of the liberation movement A. Manukian, M. Ter-Danielian, Gr. Mirzabekian, etc. The Seminary was closed and reopened for several times by the authorities of the Tsarist Russia. It existed until 1920 when the Soviet power was established in Karabagh.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF KARABAGH: The Council was established in September, 1918 at the 2nd Congress of the Armenians of Karabagh when the People's Government of Karabagh was renamed into the Armenian National Council of Karabagh. In essence, its structure remained the same:
1. Justice Department - Commissar Arso Hovhannisian, Levon Vardapetian
2. Military Department - Harutiun Tumian (Tumanian)
3. Department of Education - Rouben Shahnazarian
4. Refugees Department - Moushegh Zakharian
5. Control Department - Anoush Ter-Mikaelian
6. Department of Foreign Affairs - Ashot Melik-Hovsepian.
The Council was chaired by Yeghishe Ishkhanian, and Melikset Yesayan was elected its secretary. The Armenian National Council of Karabagh was an independent national government which exercised its powers during the periods following the congresses. It was authorized to act both as a legislative and executive body. The decisions on major political and economic issues of the region were taken by the Congress of the Armenians of Karabagh. Geographically, the scope of the powers of the Council covered the mountainous regions of Karabagh, including the Armenian villages of Gandzak District. The activities of the Council were ceased in late May of 1920 after the establishment of the Soviet regime.

ARMED CONFLICTS IN BAKU (MARCH, 1918): On March 12, 1918 the body of Mamed Tagiyev, young officer of the Turkish-Tatar regiment based in Lenkoran was brought to Baku. Mamed Tagiyev was the son of G.Z. Tagiyev, a famous and wealthy Tatar manufacturer. After the funeral of M.Tagiyev the Bolshevik authorities of Baku demanded that the detachment which escorted the corpse should be disarmed. The detachment initially agreed to do so. However, it joined the armed groups of the Mousavatists of Baku and opened fire on the soldiers of the Bolshevik Army. The shooting grew into armed confrontation which lasted three days (from March 18 till 21). The Turkish-Tatar nationalists took advantage of the fact that the head of the Bolshevik power in Baku was an Armenian (Stepan Shahumian) and attempted to give an ethnic coloring to the confrontation. The attempts of the Armenian national organizations of Baku to appease the conflicting sides ended in failure. Therefore, the Armenians were obliged to resist and, at the same time, defend and give shelter to 14,000 Moslems.

APPEAL OF A. TAGIEYEV, WELL-KNOWN MILLIONAIRE FROM BAKU, TO GOVERNEMNT OF TRANSCAUCASUS IN RESPECT OF ARMED CONFLICTS IN BAKU IN MARCH: The wire, dated March 27, read: "The confrontation is over in Baku. For the sake of the welfare of the region, I consider I ought to publicly announce that the events in Baku were not ethnic nature. In the course of the armed confrontation the Tatars did not offend the Armenians living in the Tatar quarters of the town. On the other hand, the people living in the Armenian parts saved and sheltered over 14000 Moslems who were returned owing to the interference of the Persian consul. I call for ceasing immediately any hostile actions and vengeance. I consider that it is in accord with common interests, and request you to contribute to the maintenance of peace and order among the population. Let everyone return to his everyday peaceful life".

APPEAL OF NARIMANOV, CHAIRMAN OF REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE OF AZERBAIJAN AND HUSEINOV, COMMISSAR OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (NOVEMBER 30, 1920): "…Resolution of the Revolutionary Committee of Azerbaijan of November 30 shall be announced to the Armenians on behalf of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic: "The government of workers and peasants of Azerbaijan welcomes the victory of the fraternal nation and the establishment of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic. From now on all disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan about the borders of these two states are annulled. Nagorno Karabagh, Zangezur and Nakhichevan are part of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic…".

ADMINISTRATIVE BODY OF NAGORNO KARABAGH: Established in April of 1920 in Karabagh upon the initiative and with the participation of Dro. The body represented the autonomous and independent national power of Nagorno Karabagh. It had the following structure:
- Administrator/Chairman - Arsen Hovhannisian
- Department of the Interior (Astvatsatur Avetisian - Head)
- Military Department (Dro - Head)
- Procurement Department (Khachik Melkonian - Head)
- Refugees Department (Harutiun Toumanian - Head)
- Labor Department - (Arshavir Kamalian - Head)
- Health Department (Liudvig Ter-Grigorian - Head)
- Justice Department - (Hamzayan - Head)
The government was based in Avetaranots village (Chanakhchi), and the departments was located in the villages of Karabulagh, Khachmaz, Skhtorashen, Nerkin Taghavard. The headquarters of the army were based in the village of Sarashen.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OF SOUMGAYIT, аs well as the massacres followed after the Soumgayit events throughout the republic became the reasons why the disagreement between the republic and MKAO about the state-legal status of Karabagh grew into the ethnic-political conflict between the Armenian and Azerbaijani people of AzSSR. Around 13,500 Armenians lived in Soumgayit. From February 26 through 28, 1988 over 100 Armenians were assassinated burnt alive and raped by the mob which acted according to a thoroughly elaborated plan. Those who survived were obliged to flee from the town leaving behind all their property.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TIFLIS was established in October, 1917 at the All-Armenian Congress of eastern Armenians. The Council coordinated the activities of national councils at that time based in various towns of Transcaucasus. The Council had departments for military affairs, health, refugees' affairs and education. It acted as plenipotentiary representative of eastern Armenians. As a member of United Transcaucasus Committee, it participated in the talks with Turkey, Germany. During the period from May 28, 1918 (the proclamation of independence of Armenia) through July, 1919 (the parliamentary elections) it participated in the work of the Council (National Assembly) of the republic. In July, 1918 it based in Yerevan and performed legislative functions.

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