Turkish Coalition of America on Twitter Turkish Coalition of America on Facebook Turkish Coalition of America on YouTube
Turkish Coalition of America
  • Amerika Turk Koalisyonu

Armenian Issue As Reflected In Russian Archival Records

Abstract:
The Czarist Russian and Soviet archival records gain significance with regard to much debated and controversial accounts of Armenian genocides – the issue laden with accusations and counter accusations founded on concocted and fabricated narratives fed by imperial powers to facilitate the division and share of booty of Ottoman territory. Czarist Russia and Soviets were the most important witness of the event, besides contending parties of Armenian and Turkey, between 1915 and 1923. The documents include besides state records, the Dashnak documents, who themselves were controlled and exploited by imperial Russia and Soviets for their own designs. These documents reflect the tragic saga of killings, massacres of Armenians and retaliation by Turks during these fateful years, resulting in ethnic cleansing of Armenians as well as Turkish Muslims of Armenia. The records depict living conditions of Ottoman Armenians, rise of Armenians nationalism, its enticement to Czarist plans, the Dashnak design to annihilate majority Muslim population of Ottoman Armenia, besides imperialist intrigues leading to genocides with an utter disregard to human values and international moral codes of conduct.

Keywords:
Russia, Armenia, Ottoman Turkey, czarist, Soviets, Archives.

Introduction:
The accusation of Armenian genocide has been one of the leading issues for Turkey and the world. The events that took place between 1915 and 1923 were witnessed, apart from the Turkish and the Armenian sides, by Czarist Russia and Soviet Russia. Consequently, the Russian state archives contain documents that lead in determining the truth. The archival records are:

- Russian documents from the Czarist era, the military archives of Czarist Russia and the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Russian documents from the Soviet era, the archives of the Soviet Russia Communist Party (currently, Russian Social, Political, and Historical State Archive), the archives of the Soviet era Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Red Army archives;
- In addition, documents relating to both the Czarist and Soviet era in the Russian Federation State Archives.

The Importance of Russian State Archives: Firstly, Czarist Russia was one of the powerful states that fought a war to divide and share the Ottoman territory, and kept detailed records on the events before and after the 1915 deportation of the Armenians.

Secondly, during the Turkish Independence War, Soviet Russia fought at the same front line as the Revolutionary Turkey in Anatolia. The Russian Caucasus front had joined the eastern Turkish front against the British Caucasus line. The Russian archive is therefore a primary source of information for this period.

Thirdly, due to the fact that Russia was in control of the Dashnaks, a good part of the Dashnak documents were kept in Czarist Russian archives. Furthermore, in the Soviet archives numerous important records exist in addition to the archives of Soviet Armenia. Many documents in the Armenian state archives are not open to public. Therefore, it is possible to obtain these records only through the Russian state archives. Azerbaijan and Georgian sources also supplement to the information available in the Russian ones.

While the observations of the German generals, English officers and American missionaries can be called subjective, still then leaving aside their imperialist intentions, Russians witnessed and recorded the events as a state at all stages. Considering that the Russian state archives also house records from both Armenian and other Caucasian republics it will not be an exaggeration to claim that they provide the most important documentation concerning the Armenian issue.

Many communications and top secret reports written by highranking officials from Czarist Russia, Soviet Russia, Dashnaks and Soviet Armenia are available at the Russian archives. These documents include the confessions of those who claim that an Armenian genocide took place as well as those that used the Armenian question against Turkey. They are of special importance as they reflect the observations of a strong third party such as the Czarist Russia or Soviet Russia and constitute strong and valid international evidence. Particularly, the reports and internal communications demonstrate the frank evaluation of truth by state officials.

Main Points Emanating from Russian State Archives:
The common feature of the documents at the Russian state archives is that they basically debate the international false fabrication of an Armenian genocide. I carried out research for eleven years, starting in 1998, on the Armenian question in the Czarist and Soviet Russian state archives and wish to share my conclusions drawn from those records:

1. Before and after the World War I, during both inter-state wars and in the course of civilian strives mass killings were experienced. Considering that 200,000 Armenian soldiers were serving in the Czarist Russian army, it can be concluded that many of them died during those wars. Secondly, when the Armenian bandit gangs embarked ethnic cleansing of Turks in collaboration with foreign states, the Ottoman State intervened and the fights led to the loss of many lives from both sides. Thirdly, outside the war fronts between armies, violent clashes occurred between Armenians and the Muslim population (Turks and Kurds) where a large number of people died.

2. The documents establish that, between 1915 and 1920, Armenian bandits in Southern Caucasus followed a systematic ethnic cleansing policy towards Turks, Azeri Turks and Kurds in Eastern Anatolia, as well as in Cilicia (today’s Adana-Maras region).

3. The main responsible parties of inter-state wars as well as of Muslim-Armenian violence were the Western Imperialists and Czarist Russia. The big states that wanted to divide and share the Ottoman territory provoked the Armenian organisations to fight. Under these circumstances, the Ottoman State and the Muslim population took strong action to suppress the revolting Armenian gangs which was but a rightful war to defend the fatherland.

Armenian Records in the Czarist Archives:
The records in the archives of the Czarist era on the Armenian question cover principally the period between the end of the 19th century and 1919. There are naturally earlier records as well. Although the Czarist era ended with the 1917 February and October Revolutions, one can also find some records from later years in these archives due to the continuing existence for a while of the White Army, the Kolchak Government and of the Caucasian Front Headquarters in Tbilisi.

Living Conditions of the Armenians in the Ottoman State:
The documents in the archives of the Czarist era refer to the excellent living conditions of the Armenians, and to the fact that they were particularly supported and protected by the Ottoman State until the intervention of imperialist state particularly with the 1878 Berlin Conference. According to the communications of the Czarist authorities, the living conditions of the Ottoman Armenians were superior to those of the Russian Armenians. For this reason, many Armenians fled from the Czarist Russia and found refuge in the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman dominant classes never made ethnic distinctions in their exploitation of the people. In fact, in many instances, Armenian peasants were better off than the Muslims. Armenians gained special status through their activities in trade and crafts. Furthermore, nationalities under the rule of the Ottoman State, particularly, Turks, Kurds and Armenians, lived in full harmony.

These documents provide evidence to the fact that the propaganda pursued by Western states and Czarist Russia concerning the living conditions of the Armenians within the Ottoman State was aimed at legitimizing the rationale of their intention to invade and break up the Ottoman territory. Exaggerated and falsified claims were fabricated in order to create public opinion and to justify imperialist aggression and accordingly some of the fanatic historians wrote the propagandist theories about the living conditions of the Armenians in the Ottoman time.

The Rise of Armenian Nationalism and its Characteristics:
Documents from the Czarist archives of the 19th Century point to the rise of Armenian nationalism parallel to the rise of Czarist motives of using the Armenians against the Turks. Particularly, the Armenian publications and documents in the archives from that period clearly indicate the collaborative, fanatic and aggressive features of Armenian nationalism. The Armenian intellectuals in the Caucasus were dreaming of building up an Armenian State, starting from late 19th Century and were trying to forcefully spread these ideas among the Turkish Armenians.

The Rrole of Western Europe in the Armenian Problem:
Western Europe and Russia were competing with each other in the manipulation of the Armenians to break up Eastern Anatolia. The reports of Russian officials underline the provocations and incitements of the British in the Armenian issue. The same authorities observed that these were methods, on the one hand, to disrupt the Russo-Ottoman relations, and on the other hand, to support the separatist guerrilla movement in the Ottoman State to split the empire’s territory.

Missions Entrusted to the Armenians During the World War I:
The communications and meetings of the Dashnaks with the Czarist Russian authorities show that the Armenians were entrusted with two missions within the framework of the invasion of Anatolia. Firstly, the Armenians would revolt behind the back of the Turkish Army’s frontlines to weaken it. Secondly, the Armenian voluntary units would breach the Turkish army’s defensive lines to make the Russian conquest easier. There are numerous reports written by Russian officials supporting this intention. All these plans were implemented under the supervision of the Western countries and Czarist Russia.

Ottoman Armenians Enticed by Imperialist Plans:
The Ottoman Armenians played an active role in the fulfilment of both missions mentioned above. The issue cannot be attributed to a few Dashnaks. It is also true that a large number of Armenians participated in the formation of voluntary units and in the organisation of the uprisings. The archives are full of applications by Ottoman Armenians to serve in the Czarist army and to fight against the Turks in the voluntary units. The names of thousands of Armenians of Ottoman nationality, doctors, university students, intellectuals and even simple peasants, are listed in the archives. These documents are particularly important as they demonstrate that the threat to the Ottoman State was not limited by the separatist movement leaders and revolutionaries but also by the Ottoman Armenians and hence their deportation.

Massacre and Looting Policies of the Armenian Voluntary Units:
Hundreds of reports written by Czarist generals as well as hundreds of records and verdicts of the Czarist military courts demonstrate that the Armenian voluntary units committed massacres of the Muslim population in the regions invaded during World War I and looted their properties. According to these documents, it was done in a systematic manner. Even the Russian commanders that manipulated the Armenian guerrillas were horrified by their violence. For this reason, many Armenian officers and soldiers were tried in the military courts of the Czarist army and even were sentenced death penalty. It is particularly important to note that these massacres and lootings were committed before the deportation of the Armenians.

The “Armenia without Armenians” project of Czarist Russia:
The internal communications of the Czarist authorities provide evidence of Russian plans to provoke the Armenians to massacre the Turks and to settle Dinyeper Kazahks in the invaded regions. Czarist authorities called this project “Armenia without Armenians”.

Armenian Records in Soviet Archives:
Most of the records in the Soviet archives primarily cover the period after 1917; however, they also include the explanations of the Soviet officials who evaluated the past events.

The Armenian question is an imperialist issue:
Soviet leaders such as Lenin and Stalin and Armenian Bolshevik theoreticians made a number of statements concerning the root cause of the Armenian question reflected in many reports and communications. According to those statements, the Armenian issue was used by the imperialist states as a means to break up the Ottoman territory. While the Turks fought a legitimate war to defend their fatherland, the responsible parties of this tragedy were the imperialist countries that pursued the policy of using the Armenians and the Dashnaks that played according to their plans.

The Dashnak Armenia and the Policy of Ethnic Cleansing:
The Soviet leaders observed that, according to the British policy, Dashnak Armenia was meant to be wall between the reformist Turkey and Soviet Russia and that following World War I, it was one of the subcontractors in the region serving the imperialist intentions. Dashnak Armenia also served as a base of the Western countries in the East to materialise their plans.

The Soviet documents provide evidence of the ethnic cleansing the Dashnaks undertook within the boundaries of what is known today as Armenia. In order to create a “pure” national state, the Dashnak powers annihilated the majority of the Muslim population. Furthermore, the Muslim population of the Adana and Maras regions, then called Cilicia, was slaughtered under the supervision of the French.The Armenian population had also its share from the Dashnak dictatorship. Soviet documents provide evidence of the violence the Armenian population suffered under the Dashnaks.

Turkish-Soviet Entente and the Suppression of Dashnak Armenia:
Soviet documents show that the collaboration between the Turkish Army and the Red Army in Armenia brought an end to Dashnak power and resulted in Soviets taking control. The Turkish Army’s operation towards Armenia, that is claimed to be genocide today, was supported and considered as a progressive move by Soviet officials. This Turkish operation was taken as legitimate defence of their land.

It is for this reason that today the Armenian nationalists attack the Soviet leadership as much as they do Talat Pasha and Enver Pasha. The Armenian Union of Russia published a book entitled The Protectors and Partners in the Armenian Genocide which is a compilation of documents on this particular issue charging leaders like Lenin and Stalin with taking part in the Armenian genocide. The Armenian diaspora as well as politicians and academicians underline that Russia bears equal responsibility in the “Armenian genocide” as that of Turkey. Many have otherwise also published documents and organised meetings to disseminate their alleged theories in a deliberate effort to condemn Russians and the Soviets.

The Dashnak Policies Spurred by the Nazis in World War II:
Dashnaks continued playing their WWI role during WWII, this time on the side of Hitler’s Germany. Dashnaks, as voluntary units within the fascist German army, committed crimes against local populations. Muslim Population Versus Armenian Population: Czarist as well as Soviet records substantiate that the Muslim population of the region was in irrefutable majority compared to the Armenian population.

These records are therefore fundamental to reconstruct the history of Turks, Ottomans, Armenians and that of the Russians besides many others who played their role during pre and post World War I. Howsoever a nationalist one can be, history writing demands objectivity and truthfulness and Russians records help to lead towards both.

Mehmet Perinçek*
Research Assistant, Istanbul University, Turkey: mperincek@hotmail.com

  • Armenian Issue As Reflected In Russian Archival Records
  • Post this article to Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Print this page

List of Articles on the Turkish-Armenian Question

  • The Turkish Armenian Historical Controversy: How to Name the Events of 1915The Turkish Armenian Historical Controversy: How to Name the Events of 1915read more
  • Lord Curzon’s exasperation towards the ethnic cleansing policy carried out by ArmeniaLord Curzon’s exasperation towards the ethnic cleansing policy carried out bread more
  • The Armenian Forced Relocation: Putting An End To Misleading SimplificationsThe Armenian Forced Relocation: Putting An End To Misleading Simplificationsread more
  • “Proving” a “Crime against Humanity”?“Proving” a “Crime against Humanity”?read more
  • A Bad Day In The BundestagA Bad Day In The BundestagJeremy Salt, Center For Eurasian Studies...read more
  • Not recognizing the Armenian genocide is a triumph for common senseNot recognizing the Armenian genocide is a triumph for common senseread more
  • The fallacies of the Armenian nationalist narrativeThe fallacies of the Armenian nationalist narrativeread more
  • Perincek vs SwitzerlandPerincek vs SwitzerlandFreedom of expression has already won th...read more
  • The Accusation of GenocideThe Accusation of Genocide...read more
  • Armenian Issue As Reflected In Russian Archival RecordsArmenian Issue As Reflected In Russian Archival Recordsread more
  • Armenia should constructively consider PM's proposalArmenia should constructively consider PM's proposalread more
  • The Lemkin Hole In The Swiss CaseThe Lemkin Hole In The Swiss CaseWhen Raphael Lemkin coined the word geno...read more
  • The International Politics of Armenian HistoryThe International Politics of Armenian Historyread more
  • Abraham Foxman’s good nameAbraham Foxman’s good nameIt is shocking that Abraham Foxman, the ...read more
  • Remembering Kemal Arikan (1927-1982)Remembering Kemal Arikan (1927-1982)On January 28, 1982 two Armenian gunmen ...read more
  • Orientalism: 'Terrible Turk' becomes a 'genocidal Turk'Orientalism: 'Terrible Turk' becomes a 'genocidal Turk'read more
  • TCA Responds to President Obama’s Armenian Remembrance Day StatementTCA Responds to President Obama’s Armenian Remembrance Day Statementread more
  • Religious Ceremony Held at Historical Armenian Church in TurkeyReligious Ceremony Held at Historical Armenian Church in Turkeyread more
  • Armenian President's Belligerent Remarks Draw Turkey’s IreArmenian President's Belligerent Remarks Draw Turkey’s Ireread more
  • TCA Response to President Obama's StatementTCA Response to President Obama's Statementread more
  • Why Congress Should Not Legislate HistoryWhy Congress Should Not Legislate HistoryMichael M. Gunter, April 8, 2011 On M...read more
  • Armenians in Ottoman BureaucracyArmenians in Ottoman BureaucracyArmenians held key positions in Ottoman ...read more
  • Tarihsel Gerçekler ve Uluslararası Hukuk Işığında Ermeni Soykırımı İddiasıTarihsel Gerçekler ve Uluslararası Hukuk Işığında Ermeni Soykırımı İread more
  • Amb. Elekdağ Calls Upon President Obama to Respect Law on GenocideAmb. Elekdağ Calls Upon President Obama to Respect Law on Genocideread more
  • Legislating HistoryLegislating HistoryYilmaz Arguden, October 24, 2006 Rece...read more
  • President Obama's StatementPresident Obama's StatementApril 24, 2009, Washington, DC - Preside...read more
  • 154 Retired Turkish Ambassadors Write to Speaker Pelosi 154 Retired Turkish Ambassadors Write to Speaker Pelosi read more
  • Will Untapped Ottoman Archives Reshape the Armenian Debate?Will Untapped Ottoman Archives Reshape the Armenian Debate?read more
  • Rep. Frank Pallone and the "Armenian Genocide Resolution"Rep. Frank Pallone and the "Armenian Genocide Resolution"read more
  • Professor questions ethnic conflictProfessor questions ethnic conflictMatthew Rist, The GW Hatchet, February 2...read more
  • Money spent by the Armenian Lobby in America (USA/ Armenia)Money spent by the Armenian Lobby in America (USA/ Armenia)read more
  • Buying PoliciesBuying PoliciesMichael van der Galien, PoliGazette, Aug...read more
  • The freedom of historical debate is under attack by the memory policeThe freedom of historical debate is under attack by the memory policeread more
  • Book review: The Armenian Genocide: Cultural and Ethical LegaciesBook review: The Armenian Genocide: Cultural and Ethical Legaciesread more
  • U.S. H.RES. 106: Factual and Legal DeficienciesU.S. H.RES. 106: Factual and Legal Deficienciesread more
  • A Scrutiny of Akcam's Version of History and the Armenian GenocideA Scrutiny of Akcam's Version of History and the Armenian Genocideread more
  • Turkish Armenian RelationsTurkish Armenian RelationsNursen Mazici, Radikal Daily, June 30, 2...read more
  • Armenia is a troubled nationArmenia is a troubled nationJason Epstein, Pajamas Media, April 24, ...read more
  • Armenian Terrorism: History as Poison and AntidoteArmenian Terrorism: History as Poison and Antidoteread more
  • Reader comment on: "Lévy To Speak On Islamism, Genocide"Reader comment on: "Lévy To Speak On Islamism, Genocide"read more
  • The History LessonThe History LessonNational Review Online, October 17, 2007...read more
  • Westerners on the Armenian Strategy and RebellionWesterners on the Armenian Strategy and Rebellionread more
  • Report of Captian Niles and Mr. Arthur E. Sutherland Jr.Report of Captian Niles and Mr. Arthur E. Sutherland Jr.read more
  • ADL and the TurksADL and the TurksJoel J. Sprayregen Chicago, The Jerusale...read more
  • No Armenian GenocideNo Armenian GenocideBernard Lewis, National Press Club, Augu...read more
  • Bernard Lewis Distinguishes Armenian Case from HolocaustBernard Lewis Distinguishes Armenian Case from Holocaustread more
  • Anatolia 1915:Turks Died, TooAnatolia 1915:Turks Died, TooJustin McCarthy, The Boston Globe, April...read more
  • Let Historians Decide on So-called GenocideLet Historians Decide on So-called Genocideread more
  • Turkey's new envoy says genocide bill impedes reconciliationTurkey's new envoy says genocide bill impedes reconciliationread more
  • Turkey's War on the TruthTurkey's War on the TruthRichard Cohen, Washington Post, October ...read more
  • Partisan Politics and Democrats' Turkey ProblemPartisan Politics and Democrats' Turkey Problemread more
  • Why We Are Losing TurkeyWhy We Are Losing TurkeyTony Blankley Real Clear Politics, Octob...read more
  • Genocide claims against Turkey frivolousGenocide claims against Turkey frivolousThomas Goltz Missoulian News Online, Oct...read more
  • Congress and ArmeniaCongress and ArmeniaTayyip Erdogan, PM of Turkey, The Wall S...read more
  • Armenian genocide measure is misguidedArmenian genocide measure is misguidedBruce Fein, San Francisco Chronicle, Oct...read more
  • Armenian debacleArmenian debacleTulin Daloglu, Washington Times, October...read more
  • History Speaks: The moral case against the Armenian Genocide ResolutionHistory Speaks: The moral case against the Armenian Genocide Resolutionread more
  • Judgment Time: Should America recognize an Armenian Genocide?Judgment Time: Should America recognize an Armenian Genocide?read more
  • Armenian Story has Another SideArmenian Story has Another SideNorman Stone,Chicago Tribune, October 16...read more
  • U.S. can calm a ruffled TurkeyU.S. can calm a ruffled TurkeyThe Christian Monitor, October 17, 2007 ...read more
  • Pointless Moral Exhibitionism on TurkeyPointless Moral Exhibitionism on TurkeyRich Lowry,The National Review, October ...read more
  • Stirring up the past, jeopardizing the futureStirring up the past, jeopardizing the futureread more
  • Armenia Crime Amnesia?Armenia Crime Amnesia?Bruce Fein, The Washington Times, Oct 16...read more
  • Secretary of State PelosiSecretary of State PelosiThe Wall Street Journal, October 16, 200...read more
  • Turkey in the crosshairsTurkey in the crosshairsThe Washington Times, October 15, 2007 ...read more
  • Tawdry Genocide TaleTawdry Genocide TaleBruce Fein, Washington Times, September ...read more
  • This wasn't GenocideThis wasn't GenocideShlomo Bar-Meir, Jerusalem Post, Septemb...read more
  • Letter to Abraham H. Foxman, ADL of B'Nai B'RithLetter to Abraham H. Foxman, ADL of B'Nai B'Rithread more
  • Why America Should Build Bridges to TurkeyWhy America Should Build Bridges to TurkeyLiz Peek, July 3, 2007 The Turks are...read more
  • Statement by Professor Norman StoneStatement by Professor Norman StoneNorman Stone, August 23, 2007 I am wr...read more
  • Re: Truth and Consequences: Armenians, Turks and JewsRe: Truth and Consequences: Armenians, Turks and Jewsread more
  • Let's Unearth the Truth About what happened in 1915 togetherLet's Unearth the Truth About what happened in 1915 togetherread more
  • Turkish ambassador: "Give all sides a hearing"Turkish ambassador: "Give all sides a hearing"read more
  • Judgment Time:Should America recognize an Armenian Genocide?Judgment Time:Should America recognize an Armenian Genocide?read more
  • Norman Stone: 'There is No Armenian Genocide'Norman Stone: 'There is No Armenian Genocide'read more
  • New Scholarship Disputes Armenian New Scholarship Disputes Armenian "Genocide" Narrativeread more
  • Home
  • About US
  • Support TCA
  • Contact
  • Internships
    • TCA Washington Summer Internship Program
    • Previous Programs
  • Youth Congress
    • 2019 Youth Congress Application
    • 2018 Youth Congress
    • 2017 Youth Congress
    • 2016 Youth Congress
    • 2015 Youth Congress
    • 2014 Youth Congress
    • Turkish-Canadian Youth Congress
  • Turkish American Women’s Leadership Initiative
  • Grants
    • Turkey Study Tour Grants
    • Academic Grants
    • Public Awareness / Grassroots Grants
    • Heritage Grants
    • Humanitarian Grants
  • Issues & Information
    • U.S.-Turkey Relations
    • PKK Terrorism
    • Turkey and Europe
    • Armenian Issue
    • Cyprus Issue
    • Turkish History
    • Turkish Minorities Abroad
    • TCA Issue Papers
    • Reading Lists and General Resources on Turkey
  • Turkish American Community
    • Turkish American Appointed Officials
    • Turkish Americans Elected to Political Office
    • Elected Officials with Turkish Heritage
    • Turkish American Organizations
    • Turkish American Publications and Broadcasts
    • Turkish American Online Services
    • Prominent Turkish Americans
    • Turk Evleri
  • U.S. Congress
  • The Turkey Caucus
  • Outreach to Heritage Communities
    • African American Outreach
    • Native American Outreach
    • Hispanic American Outreach
  • Scholarships
    • Study Abroad Scholarships for American Students of Minority and Heritage Communities
    • Scholarships by Other Organizations
    • Previous TCA Programs
  • News & Events
    • News and Events
    • TCA Issue Papers
    • TCA Newsletters
  • Media
    • TCA in the News
    • Posters and Advertisements
    • Submit a Media Request
  • TAKE ACTION
  • LEGAL RIGHTS
  • CULTURE
Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Support the Turkish Coalition of America by Shopping at AmazonSmile
  • Turkish Coalition of America on YouTube
Turkish Coalition of America
Amerika Turk Koalisyonu
  • Boston
    P.O. Box 611
    Bedford, MA 01730
    Phone: 978.318.0047
    Fax: 978.318.0037
  •  
     
     
  •  
     
     
  • Copyright © 2023 Turkish Coalition of America. All rights reserved.
    Site Map