How did Azerbaijani agents operate freely in Yerevan in 1919?

1919 was an important and at the same time difficult period in the history of the Republic of Armenia. The country had just declared independence, but it was facing both external political challenges and serious internal socio-economic problems. Under these conditions, the authorities of the republic tried to gain international support, strengthen the state structures and protect the territorial integrity of the country.

At the same time, the situation inside Armenia continued to be extremely difficult. The internal situation of the country became more complicated due to wars, a large flow of emigrants, famine and difficult economic conditions. The press of the time, the memoirs of intellectuals document that especially in Yerevan, it was a chaotic situation, there were orphans, emigrants everywhere, on the other hand, various epidemics were reaping abundantly in the republic and especially in Yerevan.

In that difficult situation, the press of the time also criticized the country’s leadership and accused them of omissions in a number of areas.

In 1919, the famous Armenian writer Axel Bakunts lived in Yerevan and was a correspondent for a number of newspapers of that region. Bakunts stayed in Yerevan and worked in newspapers until September 1919. His activities coincided with the difficult period of 1919. In Bakunt’s correspondence, we also find articles about the situation in Yerevan. In one of his articles, Bakunts presents that Georgian and Azerbaijani agents roamed freely in Yerevan at that time. Below is the full article.

«THE GUESTS

Yerevan is full of suspicious guests. All the suspicious elements exiled from Georgia arrive here, along with them the agents of Georgia and Azerbaijan also come to us and roam the streets of the capital freely.

To this day, no one has been deported from our territory, although their conspiratorial activities are obvious. All the khans and begs, who organized the massacre and deportation of the Armenian people last year, remain calm and live.

There is no doubt that the latest attempts of the Tatar uprising are led by such people from Yerevan.

And the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not resort to any means to neutralize the heart of the rebellion.

How to explain this criminal indifference? With weakness or with the patience of republican orders?

A new state, surrounded by enemies and ravaged by internal rebellion, cannot tolerate agents from a foreign power within its borders.

Moreover, all those elements who are hostile to our cause and demands shall leave this country and go to another place which is dear to them. Is it permissible that a certain “socialist” K., who tries to prove in long articles that the Armenian Karabakh is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan, or another “internationalist”-socialist A. and a member of the Armenian parliament, who declares that Georgians have the right and should rule Lori (for the sake of Armenian Menshevik specific internationalism), is it possible that such types, agents of Denikin and Ramishvili, who are different from Tajik agents, can “act” freely and even take office in our so hated country? B. July 31.” (“Nork”, 1989, N 5).

The events of 1919 show how difficult the state was. Axel Bakuntsi’s publications are also important testimonies of that period. This article reflects the concern that was widespread in society. with the country’s security, internal instability and external influences.

Similar articles give a chance to better imagine not only the political events, but also the concerns of the society of that region, the anxieties of the people and the dangers facing the newly created state.

Z. Sh:i was late

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