Authorities of Russian empire and armenian-azerbaijani conflict

Abstract

The year 1905 is marked in history as the beginning of the largest Armenian-azerbaijani ethnic conflict affecting a number of cities in the South Caucasus. It should be noted that in the city of Baku alone bloody clashes erupted three times in 1905: in February, August and October, killing thousands of people. For many years it has been asserted that the authorities, with the help of the Azerbaijani and Armenian bourgeoisie, organized the ethnic conflict of 1905 in order to distract the masses from embarking on a revolutionary path. According to this argument, dashnaks, Pan-Islamists and Pan-Turkists actively participated in these provocations organized by the tsarist power. However, researchers had not attempted in-depth historical analysis of the causes of the massacre. Therefore by asserting no dogmatically postulated position, modern historiography may enjoy a wide range of possibilities for the investigation of little–studied — or deliberately “forgotten” — subjects. First of all, thanks to a wide range of archival and documentary sources that have been brought into scientific use, reinterpretation and critical analysis, it is possible for a new approach to the problem of ethnic conflicts between Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the early 20th century. This article examines the issues related to actions undertaken by the imperial authorities during the ethnic conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in 1905–1906 in Baku. The article shows the measures that had been taken to prevent further clashes, including earnest reconciliation of the conflicting parties.The author sufficiently demonstrated the lack of any scientific basis for claims of government responsibility for inciting interethnic conflict, as this argument served either particular political or ideological purposes. This article explores the background of the actions of civil and military authorities with regard to peace–building. Furthermore, particular emphasis has been put on the factors that had prompted the ineffectiveness of the governing authority’s actions during civil disorder. Special attention is given to the use of political measures, including repression, to prevent further clashes. This article deals with Count I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov’s activities as the governor of the Caucasus which were aimed at bringing peace to the region during the difficult years of revolutionary discontent and Armenian-Azerbaijani conflicts in particular. Refs 24.