During the massacres committed by Armenian-Bolshevik armed groups against Azerbaijanis in Baku and surrounding regions between March 31 and April 2, 1918, the national press also suffered a severe blow.
Modern.az reports that these views were expressed by Akif Aşırlı, the founder and editor-in-chief of the “Şərq” newspaper.
He noted that during those events, mass killings were committed against Azerbaijanis, and at the same time, national institutions suffered a heavy blow. In particular, the editorial offices of the “Kaspi” and “Açıq söz” newspapers, the electric printing house belonging to the Orujov brothers, as well as the “Novruz” and “Turan” printing houses were burned and destroyed.
"As a result of these events, the activity of the Azerbaijani native-language press in Baku ceased for approximately 6 months. The last issues of the newspapers were published on March 18 (March 31) according to the old calendar in 1918. Only the “Hümmət” and “Bakı Şurası” newspapers, affiliated with the Bolshevik platform, were able to continue their activities".
He also emphasized that the March 31 events should be remembered in national memory as a genocide against the Azerbaijani national press.
A. Aşırlı also proposed that a special memorial plaque be placed in the area encompassing the Double Fortress Walls (Qoşa Qala divarları) and the monument of Sabir, where the printing houses that were burned and looted during that period were located, to immortalize this fact:
“This does not require significant financial resources. Even placing a simple plaque would suffice,” he added.
