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Agulis, a developed town in the Armenian Goghtan[1] province, had a population of approximately 8,000 households in the 17th century. Twelve monasteries and churches were located there.[2]
Agulis also suffered from the Turkish-Tatar massacres and destruction. Despite adopting a neutral stance and accepting the local Muslim government, the Armenians of Agulis could not avoid massacres and devastation.
On December 24-25, 1919, massacres occurred in Agulis, resulting in the killing of most of the Armenian population of Upper and Inner Agulis.
Sergey Melik-Yolchyan, the General-Commissar of Karabakh-Zangezur, sent a telegram from Syunik to the foreign minister of the Republic of Armenia, stating: "According to additional verified information, the Tatars of Nakhijevan and Ordubad, under the leadership of Turkish and Azeri officers Khalil Bey, Adif Bey, and others, brutally slaughtered the entire population of Upper Agulis following the massacre in Inner Agulis. Approximately 400 people were killed in Upper Agulis and 1,000 in Inner Agulis."
The population was massacred, with the exception of 20 young women who were given to the officers as gifts. The 16-year-old daughter of Panyan was gifted to Adif Bey. The populations of both Inner and Upper Agulis were completely unarmed and displayed strict loyalty, but this did not save them. The advance of the Tatars toward Goghtan continues, the remnants of Goghtan's residents flee toward Meghri”. [3]
The Agulis massacres were described in detail by Hovhannes Hakhnazaryan (1900-1978), a native of Agulis, who held doctorates in history and philosophy from the Universities of Prague and Tehran, in his documentary memoir, titled "Goghtan district."[4]
Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli, who was born in Agulis (Aylis), addressed the Agulis massacres in his novel "Stone Dreams." In the book, he draws parallels between the Agulis massacre and the massacres of Armenians in Sumgait and Baku in 1988 and the years that followed. Aylisli, through the narration by an Azerbaijani, offers insights into the moral and psychological atmosphere in Azerbaijan, the chauvinist hostility towards Armenians during that time. [5]
Here is an excerpt from Aylisli's novel describing the Agulis massacre:
“At the time there were still more than a few middle-aged people in Aylis who’d seen the unprecedented slaughter of the Armenians of Aylis with their own eyes... This is what happened. So that the Armenian population of Aylis wouldn’t suspect anything beforehand, thirty to forty Turkish horsemen of Adif Bey had been riding around all the houses—both Armenian and Muslim—since early morning and announcing that on that day a truce would be declared, and therefore everyone needed to gather immediately in the yard of a certain Armenian. After that, as people assembled in the appointed place, the Turkish soldiers divided Muslims from Armenians and stood them in rows on opposite sides of the yard. Suddenly, a loud command rang out from somewhere: “Fire!” The Turkish soldiers surrounding the yard on all sides rained down a hail of bullets on the Armenians. Many perished immediately. Those who survived had their throats cut with daggers or were stabbed to death by bayonets, to the very last person. Digging a ditch, they buried those they could bury right there in the yard and the garden. They threw those for whom there wasn’t space in the yard and garden into the stables and cellars of the nearest homes and burned them. The Muslim women who on that day didn’t even dare leave their homes later described events this way: “The water in all the irrigation canals was red with blood for an entire week.” “Adif Bey had a horse that was black like a crow. Adif sat on him by the gates of the house. Shouting ‘Fire!’ he lashed his horse with his crop and galloped off. And immediately the rain of bullets began to flow; it seemed as if the sky had fallen, ash rained down from above. A cry went up such as no one had heard since the creation of the world. All the dogs in the yards began barking all at once. All the crows in the trees began cawing. The frightened magpies and pigeons disappeared instantly from the village; they flew off to hide beyond the mountains. It seemed as if hell had opened up, as if the sun were just about to crash down to earth!” [6]
The novel was published in the Russian magazine 'Druzhba Narodov' in December 2012. It caused massive anger in Azerbaijan, leading to public demonstrations in front of the writer's house, book burnings, and accusations of treason.
According to a decree by Ilham Aliyev, Aylisli was stripped of his 'People's Writer' title, which he had received in 1988, and lost his presidential pension. The leader of the pro-government 'Modern Musavat' party ordered members of the party's youth wing to cut off Aylisli's ear for a 10,000-manat reward․[7]
Regarding the persecutions, Aylisli stated: 'I understand that my work has created certain problems for both the Azerbaijani authorities and the official ideology. However, I will never agree with the opinion that my novel humiliates the dignity of the Azerbaijani people.' Akram Aylisli wrote this in an address to Ilham Aliyev, adding, 'Mr. President, along with economic reforms, Azerbaijan also needs ideological reforms.'[8]
Although there are some historical inaccuracies, his work holds not only artistic value but also significant socio-political importance, as he aimed to break the circle of lies and falsehoods. [9]
Thus, the Armenians of Agulis also fell victim to the Turkish-Tatar genocidal policy. Armenian Agulis and Goghtan provinces were depopulated. Those pogroms were so inhumane and cruel that they were told even among Azerbaijanis for decades.
In the conditions of Aliyev's dictatorial and anti-Armenian policy, there are people who speak about the existence, cultural and economic development of Armenians in Nakhijevan and in the territory of Azerbaijan in general. At the same time, they talk about the inhumane atrocities, as a result of which the Armenian population living in the current territory of Azerbaijan was expelled and genocided, and the Armenian trace was continuously erased.
[1] The Goghtan province, which is now the Ordubad district of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, has been an integral part of historical Armenia since ancient times. Goghtan is renowned for its historical significance, rich culture, and contribution to Armenian literature. It has a long history of significant events. Mesrop Mashtots, the inventor of the Armenian alphabet, conducted educational activities in this region. It was also known by the name "Ginevet Goghtn and was famous for Goghtan singers and settlements [Agulis, Tsghna, Tanakert, Paraka, Bist, Vanand, Giran, Kaghakik, Ordvar (Ordubad), etc.]. The province was also a major center of silk production, it was full of architectural monuments, it had notable dynasties and families.
[2] For details see: E. Lalayan. Nakhijevan province, part A., Goghtn or Ordubad District, Ethnographical Journal, Tiflis, Book XI, 1904, pp. 253-270.
[3] "Haraj", ARF official newspaper, Yerevan, January 13, 1920.
[4] Goghtan District, Tehran, 1991:
[5]R. Melkonyan, D. Karapetyan, Akram Aylisli, "Stone Dreams" novel-requiem, https://www.historyofarmenia-am.armin.am/images/menus/1285/Ruben%20Meliqyan.pdf
[6]Ahead of the 100th Anniversary of the Agulis Genocide, https://shorturl.at/ghtHS
[7] "Stone Dreams" are stories based on truth, Akram Aylisli, https://armenpress.am/arm/news/754586.html,
[8] Akram Aylisli, "Azerbaijan needs ideological reforms"https://www.azatutyun.am/a/27686174.html,
[9] R. Melkonyan, D. Karapetyan, Akram Aylisli, "Stone Dreams" novel-requiem, https://www.historyofarmenia-am.armin.am/images/menus/1285/Ruben%20Meliqyan.pdf,