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Struggle for Freedom 1923-1988
The authorities of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
(AzSSR) systematically and persistently violated the rights and interests
of the Armenian population of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast
during the entire period of its existence under Azeri rule. Azerbaijan
viewed Nagorno Karabakh primarily as a source for raw materials. Its
policy of discrimination against Nagorno Karabakh was aimed at artificial
suppression of its social-economic development and active de-Armenianization.
Armenian monuments and cultural artifacts were destroyed or presented
as Azeri origin. Because of this discrimination, the Armenian population
never abandoned its intent to secede from Azerbaijan. Trying to avoid
the same plight of Nakhichevan, an area once heavily populated by Armenians
but of which eventually disappeared, Nagorno Karabakh Armenians saw
secession as the only guarantee for a secure future.
Their struggle against the Azeris used many methods
and took different forms despite Azerbaijan's efforts to crush it. As
early as the 1920s, the Central Committee of the Communist Party
(CCCP) of Azerbaijan was forced to discuss issues pertaining to the
Karabakh movement. Many leaders of NKAO and its regions were accused
of nationalism and were punished in the 1920-1930-ies; some communist
party organizations were disbanded in Nagorno Karabakh.
A number of attempts were made to raise the Nagorno
Karabakh issue before the central authorities of the USSR after WW II
(in 1945, 1965, 1967, and 1977). Representatives of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh appealed to Moscow with numerous letters and petitions.
45,000 people signed a petition in 1965. Based on this petition,
the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union (CPSU) ordered the CCCPs of Armenia and Azerbaijan to jointly
investigate the Nagorno Karabakh problem. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan once
again sidestepped a possible resolution to the problem by finding support
among influential leaders in the USSR.
The Azerbaijani authorities policies against the Armenian
included the provocation of ethnic clashes. In the guise of crushing
popular protests, Azerbaijani authorities shot and jailed nearly twenty
Armenians, while more than ten disappeared, and more than 150 were suppressed.
More than 100 families were forced to leave Karabakh due to persecutions,
which lasted for two years. These violent acts were initiated and implemented
by former KGB head and current President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev.
Numerous suggestions regarding the Nagorno Karabakh
issue were made during the discussions about the new USSR Constitution
in 1977. Despite the fact that top-level officials acknowledged
the problem, a solution was deferred indefinitely.
For example, the Presidium of the USSR Council
of Ministers
stated the following on November 23, 1977:
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"As a result of a number of historic
circumstances, Nagorno Karabakh was artificially annexed to Azerbaijan
several decades ago. In this process, the historic past of the
oblast [region], its ethnic composition, the will of its people
and economic interests were not taken into consideration. Decades
passed, and the Karabakh problem continues to raise concern and
cause moments of animosity between the two peoples, who are connected
with ages-old friendship. Nagorno Karabakh (Armenian name Artsakh)
should be made part of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic.
In this case everything will take its legal place."
From the November 23, 1977 session of the
Presidium of the USSR Council of Ministers
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However, the Central Committee of the CPSU rejected
this suggestion. 
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