31 March is also the day for protecting the future
Now there is a question that every Azerbaijani ponders: what is the source of Armenians' enmity towards our people, where does it draw its strength from, what is it based on… These questions can be listed. In this article, we will try to find answers to these questions.
Today is March 31, 2026. In our calendar, today is the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis. This day is a symbol of the Azerbaijani people's blood memory, historical tragedies, and at the same time, their will for national resistance. March 31 is a call to keep memory alive, learn lessons from history, and be vigilant for the future.
Looking back at history, it is clear that the genocide policy carried out against Azerbaijanis is not a collection of random or local incidents. This is a long-term strategy implemented systematically, in stages, and purposefully. From the late 19th century onwards, this policy began to be implemented in a more open and organized manner. However, even in earlier periods, massacres and acts of violence were committed against Azerbaijanis whenever the opportunity arose.
The events of 1905 went down in history as one of the first large-scale stages of this policy. Archival documents of Tsarist Russia also note that during that period, Armenian armed groups carried out mass attacks against the Azerbaijani population in the Baku, Shamakhi, Nakhchivan, and Iravan governorates. Tens of thousands of people were killed and villages were burned in these events.
The events of 1908 were a continuation of this process. Against the backdrop of events in Ottoman lands, Armenian armed groups became even more active in the region, intensifying their policy of ethnic cleansing in the Caucasus.
The March events of 1918 are one of the bloodiest pages in Azerbaijani history. Hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were killed as a result of the March massacres jointly carried out by the Baku Soviet and Dashnak forces. The documents of the Extraordinary Investigation Commission established by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic clearly prove the scale and horror of this genocide.
Hundreds of villages were razed to the ground in Shamakhi, and massacres were committed with particular cruelty in Guba. Armenian oppression at that time reached all regions of Azerbaijan, killing people. The Guba genocide mass grave is living proof of those atrocities. The human remains found there, including skeletons belonging to women and children, show the cruelty with which Armenian armed groups acted.
The establishment of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1923 was the political stage of this policy. This step laid the foundation for new conflicts in the future and accelerated the process of displacing Azerbaijanis from their historical lands.
In the 1930s, particularly in 1935, during the Soviet rule, the deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia continued. Although this process was presented as “resettlement” in official documents, in reality, it was an integral part of the ethnic cleansing policy.
Between 1948 and 1953, by decision of the USSR leadership, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were forcibly removed from their native lands and resettled in the lowland regions of Azerbaijan. Decisions of the USSR Council of Ministers regarding this exist, and these documents confirm that the deportation was carried out in a planned manner.
From the late 1980s onwards, this policy once again shifted to a military plane. From 1988, Azerbaijanis living in the territory of Armenia were massively expelled. Between 1990 and 1993, Karabakh and the surrounding regions were occupied in conditions of open warfare.
What happened in Khojaly on the night of February 25-26, 1992, went down in history as one of the most horrific tragedies of the 20th century. 613 civilians were brutally murdered. Witnesses of this genocide are now returning to their homelands and confirming those events firsthand.
Some of those who committed the Khojaly genocide have already been apprehended and prosecuted by Azerbaijan. This is a significant event in terms of restoring historical justice and a serious lesson for the future.
We should also know that these genocides committed against our people over time are not limited to human slaughter. The historical lands of the Azerbaijani people have been occupied, cultural heritage destroyed, and cities and villages laid to waste. Mosques have been desecrated, and cemeteries destroyed.
This situation rightly raises a question: why have Armenians consistently pursued a cruel and ruthless policy against Azerbaijanis?
The answer to this question lies in a complex of historical, political, and ideological factors. The idea of “Greater Armenia,” which emerged in the 19th century, became the ideological basis of the ethnic cleansing policy in the region. This idea not only involved territorial claims but also envisioned the displacement of other peoples from those lands.
The existence of this idea is openly acknowledged in historical sources, including in the works of Armenian authors themselves.
The role of external forces in this policy requires special attention. During the Tsarist Russian period, Armenians were resettled in the Caucasus, changing the demographic situation in the region. This was part of the empire's strategy to create a foothold in the region.
During the Soviet era, this policy continued in various forms. Armenia's territorial claims were indirectly supported, while the rights of Azerbaijanis were systematically violated.
In the modern era, countries like France openly pursue a policy defending Armenia. Unilateral resolutions adopted in the French parliament clearly demonstrate this country's interests and partisan stance in the region.
Iran, under the guise of a balancing policy to protect its geopolitical interests in the region, effectively cooperates closely with Armenia. This is observed through actions that contradict Azerbaijan's interests. Interestingly, when Bolsheviks and Dashnaks committed genocide against Azerbaijanis in 1918, tens of thousands of our compatriots were also killed in Southern Azerbaijan. However, not a single Persian was harmed. This fact speaks volumes.
Of course, without such external support, it would not have been possible for Armenia to continue its occupation policy for such a long time.
All these facts indicate that the genocide policy against Azerbaijanis is a result of a process where the interests of great powers clashed, alongside the Armenians. The Armenians, meanwhile, thought they would gain something by being a pawn.
Today, the situation has changed. Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity. The occupied lands have been liberated.
Today, the residents of Khojaly are returning to their native lands. This is a stage where justice has been restored for the first time in history.
We have now shed the attire of a grieving nation; we are a victorious people. March 31 is a symbol of our strength, our will, and our national unity. Azerbaijanis living in various countries around the world commemorate this day, remember the victims, and recall their history.
Today is a day of remembrance, a day of lessons. Today is a day to look to the future. To not forget the calamities that befell our people, and to not experience them again, we must be vigilant. History has shown that forgetfulness leads to the repetition of tragedies. For this reason, it can be considered that March 31 is also the day for protecting the future.
Yes, the genocides committed against the Azerbaijani people are among the most painful pages of our history. However, these pages are also proof of our people's resistance, struggle, and invincibility. A nation that learns from history will never be defeated.
Elnur ƏMİROV
