The Azerbaijan State News Agency

POLITICS

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry issues statement on 31 March-Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry issues statement on 31 March-Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis

Baku, March 31, AZERTAC

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement on 31 March - Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.

Citing the ministry’s press service department, AZERTAC presents the statement: “March 31 is the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis, commemorating the victims of the bloody massacre perpetrated by Armenians against Azerbaijanis.

In March-April 1918, massacres were committed with utmost cruelty in the city of Baku, as well as other towns and districts of the Baku Province by the dashnak-bolshevik armed groups operating under the mandate of the Baku Council (Baku Soviet), and tens of thousands of civilians were killed only for their ethnic and religious affiliation. We commemorate the victims of these events and consider it important to preserve this memory in order to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Ethnic Armenian Stepan Shaumian, the Commissar Extraordinary for the Caucasus, admitted that 6,000 armed soldiers of the Baku Soviet and 4,000 from the Dashnaksutyun party participated in the massacres against the Azerbaijani people.[1]

The genocide carried out against the Azerbaijanis along with Baku covered also Shamakhi, Guba, Iravan, Zangezur, Karabakh, Nakhchivan and Kars regions. During the first five months of 1918, more than 16,000 people were murdered with utmost cruelty in Guba province alone; a total of 167 villages were destroyed. Mass graves discovered in Guba region in 2007 constitute clear evidence of the inhumane acts committed by Armenians.

March massacres of 1918 were well prepared and ruthlessly implemented act by radical nationalist Armenians against Azerbaijanis on the grounds of racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing.

The Government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic established in 1918 the Extraordinary Investigation Commission in order to investigate the serious crimes perpetrated by Armenians and has taken a number of measures to preserve the true facts revealed by the Commission in the memory of the people and to inform the world community about these atrocities. The Extraordinary Investigation Commission which was comprised of the best lawyers of that time representing different nationalities - Russians, Jewish, Polish, Georgians and even Armenians, based on the evidences launched criminal cases against 194 individuals accused of different crimes against the peaceful population; 24 individuals in Baku and about 100 individuals in Shamakhi had been arrested for perpetrated crimes.

However, this process had been suspended after the demise of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, a full investigation of the events and its political-legal assessment had been prevented. Only after 80 years - on March 26, 1998 the adequate political assessment was given to these horrific events by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On the Genocide of Azerbaijanis", signed by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and 31 March was declared the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis.

The commemoration of the Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis plays an important role in informing the world community about the massacre and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in the past and present.

Through the policy of military aggression against Azerbaijan, which lasted for almost 30 years, Armenia continued to commit crimes against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds. One million Azerbaijanis fell victim to ethnic cleansing in Armenia and in occupied territories of Azerbaijan. Armenia also committed numerous war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide, including the Khojaly Genocide of February 1992. During the 44-day war, the Armenian armed forces deliberately targeted peaceful population of Ganja, Barda, Tartar and other cities of Azerbaijan with missile attacks. In doing so, Armenia has brought back the memories of a century ago March Massacre.

We strongly condemn the deliberate policy pursued by Armenia, based on genocide, crimes against humanity, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing, committed so far against the Azerbaijani people, and we emphasize the importance of ceasing Armenia's impunity in order to prevent the recurrence of these inhumane crimes in the future. Azerbaijan from its side will take all necessary legal measures to ensure peace and end impunity.

We commemorate the innocent victims of the March massacre with grief and mercy.”

 

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

Azerbaijan’s population surpasses 10.224 million

® Azercell supports project to enhance educational opportunities for women

Azerbaijani PM embarks on working visit to Iran

Azerbaijani Embassy in Syria resumes operations

Azerbaijan, Tajikistan discusses prospects for cooperation in combatting emergency situations

Azerbaijan U-18 beach volleyball team wins silver in Latvia

Jacob Kiplimo obliterates half marathon world record in under 57 minutes during dominant Barcelona victory

Saudi Arabia to host US-Russia talks on Ukraine, as UK says it’s ‘ready and willing’ to put troops on ground

Sahiba Gafarova: Azerbaijani and Belarus Parliaments successfully collaborate within international organizations

Almaty eyes better air connectivity with China, targets extra flights in 2025

Euronews: Azerbaijan hosted a spectacular event for judo fans worldwide

Cooperation agreement on tourism between Azerbaijan and Türkiye approved  - ORDER

170 couples marry in mass ceremony in Afghanistan's Samangan

Azerbaijani delegation to attend 24th Winter Meeting of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vienna

Number of passengers transported by ASCO ferries increased by 20% last year

ANAMA: 935.6 hectares cleared of mines and UXOs over past week

BHOS teachers to deliver lectures in Bulgaria

'Conclave' and 'The Brutalist' dominate 2025 BAFTAs with four wins each

10 killed, several wounded in building collapse in Egypt

Another 42 families relocated to Jabrayil receive house keys VIDEO

TASS to hold 19th OANA General Assembly in St. Petersburg in June

33rd anniversary of the Garadaghly tragedy

ICESCO to host 3rd Youth Knowledge Forum

Pesticides causing widespread harm to animals and plants: Study

International Judo Federation commends Azerbaijan’s excellent organization of Baku Grand Slam 2025

® “Women Helpline Service” publishes results for 2024

Caspian Policy Center: Azerbaijan is one the of the key suppliers of secure and stable natural gas to Europe – INTERVIEW

BHOS student successfully completes research internship program in Japan

AZERTAC’s photo correspondent wins gold medal in international competition

Karabakh wedding customs: Traditions that have stood the test of time

Tehran hosts 3rd Caspian Economic Forum

Lassa fever kills 13 in southern Nigeria

NASA sets coverage of firefly’s first robotic commercial moon landing

Italy’s Naples rocked by 3.9-magnitude quake

JPW assisted over 17,000 women through 734 economic programmes last year in Malaysia

DSWD releases over 6K food packs to flood-hit Eastern Samar families

The overlooked astrocyte: Star-shaped brain cells may form specialized networks for reward learning

Pope's condition stable says Vatican

Oil prices surge in global markets

NBA All-Star Game: Steph Curry wins MVP after leading Shaq’s OGs to mini-tournament victory

Pope appoints Sr Petrini as President of Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State

Agaverdi Khalilov: The equestrian games of Karabakh showcase the richness of our culture

New DNA research could lead to personalized cancer prevention for smokers

Korean government suspends local service of Chinese AI app DeepSeek

Azerbaijani judokas claim five medals at Baku Grand Slam 2025

Azerbaijan relocates 42 more families to Jabrayil city VIDEO

UAE first Asian country to host FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Trophy Tour

Türkiye begins renovation of Damascus International Airport

Inter Milan denied Serie A top spot in loss at Juventus

Frankfurt sinks struggling Kiel to strengthen top-three standing

At least nine dead in US floods and heavy rain

Maddison's goal brings Tottenham 1-0 Premier League victory over Manchester United

Azerbaijani Defense Ministry presents weekly summary of events

Azerbaijan Army holds military oath-taking ceremonies

Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah net as Liverpool beat Wolves 2-1

Azerbaijani FM attends reception marking Serbian Statehood Day

Azerbaijan and Ethiopian Investment Holdings sign Memorandum of Understanding

Jannik Sinner banned from tennis for 3 months for doping

Eight Azerbaijani athletes to compete at FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup in Baku

Caspian Sea turns red: Test results announced

Lavrov, Rubio agree to maintain contact, prepare for Putin-Trump summit

President Ilham Aliyev: Relations of friendship and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Lithuania have good traditions

To His Excellency Mr. Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania

Mother, toddler die from injuries sustained in Thursday's car-ramming attack in Germany

Azerbaijani FM heads to Serbia for working visit

Azerbaijani FM meets with Latvian counterpart in Munich

FM Bayramov discusses Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process with Romanian counterpart

Omar Marmoush treble fires Manchester City to Newcastle United victory in Premier League

Azerbaijani and Iraqi FMs discuss situation in Middle East

Bayern Munich held to goalless draw with Bayer Leverkusen

Azerbaijan, Moldova discuss bilateral cooperation agenda

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry issues statement on so-called “snap presidential elections” in Georgia’s Abkhazia region

Jeyhun Bayramov briefs Turkish counterpart on Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process

Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Bulgaria discuss strategic partnership

Azerbaijan, North Macedonia discuss development of economic and trade relations

Azerbaijani judoka wins Grand Slam gold

Azerbaijani, Lithuanian FMs meet in Munich

Azerbaijan, OSCE discuss key areas of bilateral cooperation

Chancellor Scholz slams US vice president for German election interference

Opening ceremony officially kicks off Baku Grand Slam

Azerbaijan, Guinea explore collaboration opportunities in various sectors

Earthquake strikes Russia's Altai region

To His Excellency Mr. Aleksandar Vučić, President of the Republic of Serbia

Turkish foreign minister discusses Syria, Gaza, Ukraine with US counterpart in Munich

Amazon accused by Italy of evading €1.2bn in VAT payments

SOCAR and Asian Development Bank discuss potential cooperation opportunities

Azerbaijani oil price falls below $77

Six killed, 10 injured as van collides with trawler in Pakistan

Pakistan approves collaborative venture between PSO and SOCAR Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani, Serbian FMs discuss strategic partnership in Munich

Azerbaijani FM meets with Secretary General of Council of Europe

Azerbaijani, Israeli FMs discuss regional matters

Trial of Armenians accused of crimes against peace and humanity, war and other grave crimes continues VİDEO

Azerbaijan, Kuwait hold political consultations

Azerbaijan, ADB explore cooperation

Azerbaijan Air Force military unit marks establishment anniversary

Azerbaijan makes successful start at Baku Grand Slam 2025

Azerbaijan’s Central Election Commission announces general voting results of municipal elections

Munich Security Conference kicks off as Ukraine, Middle East top agenda

President Ilham Aliyev congratulates Syria’s transitional President