The claims put forward by the Armenian side regarding the ethnic origin of ancient Albanians are not based on historical facts.
Modern.az reports that this was stated by Doctor of Historical Sciences Hasan Hasanov at a seminar on “Historical overview of the heritage of Caucasian Albania”.
The historian stated that Albania was not a state that emerged independently and suddenly, its history was connected with Atropatena:
“Albania was an integral part of Atropatena. Always remember this: Albania is not a state that fell from the sky”.
In his speech, Hasan Hasanov also touched upon the issue of the ethnic origin of Albanians. He noted that although Armenians claim that Albanians are Armenians, there was no tribe called “Alban” in the ethnic composition of Armenians:
“As for the identity of Albanians, we know that Armenians claim they are Armenians. Similar views are even found in some Lezgin claims. However, the only ethnic group in which tribes called ‘Alban’ have existed from ancient times to the present day are the Turkic peoples. Neither Armenians nor Lezgins have a tribe called ‘Alban’ in their ethnic composition”.
According to the scholar, Turkic tribes bearing the name “Alban” are still found in various countries today:
“Today, Uyghurs, a Turkic people, live in the East. A little further from the Uyghurs, Albanians of Turkic origin have settled. A Turkic people called ‘Alban’ lives in China. If you go to Kazakhstan and say you want to meet Albanians, they will show you their address”.
Hasan Hasanov stated that Albanian tribes exist in the composition of Kazakhs and some Turkic peoples living in China:
“There are Albanian tribes in the composition of Kazakhs and peoples in China. However, no tribe with this name is found in the composition of either Armenians or Lezgins”.
Lamiya Jannatzadeh
