AZE.US
The debate over the events of 1915 provokes a strong response in Azerbaijan not only because of the country’s close ties with Turkey, but also because many Azerbaijanis believe the broader history of violence against Muslim communities in the region is often overlooked.
Rizvan Huseynov, director of the Center for the History of the Caucasus and author of Azerbaijan and the Armenian Question in the Caucasus, discussed the issue during an appearance on Echo Baku.
Huseynov argued that the events of 1915 are frequently presented in isolation from the wider military and political context of World War I, including the role of the Russian Empire, European powers and armed groups operating in eastern Anatolia and the South Caucasus.
According to him, Azerbaijan’s sensitivity to the issue is linked to the violence experienced by Azerbaijanis and other Muslim populations in the early 20th century.
He referred to the events of 1905 and 1918 in Baku, Shamakhi, Guba, Lankaran and other areas, saying these episodes should be included in any broader discussion of the period.
“The issue is not only that Azerbaijanis and Turks are brotherly peoples,” Huseynov said. “It is also a matter of principle. One episode cannot be separated from the crimes committed against Azerbaijanis and other Muslim communities.”
He also argued that the Armenian genocide narrative was later connected to the Karabakh conflict, with some politicians and activists portraying Azerbaijani military actions as a continuation of the events of 1915.
Huseynov said this comparison made Azerbaijan directly involved in the international debate, even though the events themselves took place in the Ottoman Empire.
He also described recognition of the events as genocide as a political instrument that has sometimes been used to pressure Turkey.
At the same time, Huseynov welcomed what he described as a more cautious approach by Armenia’s current leadership, saying Yerevan appears less willing to place the 1915 issue at the center of its foreign policy.
The historical interpretations expressed by Huseynov remain highly disputed and reflect his personal assessment of one of the most contested chapters in the region’s history.
AZE.US