[Global Issue+] The Fear of the 'Armenian Genocide' Revived After a Century

The Ottoman Turks, the predecessors of modern Turkey, committed the 'Armenian Genocide' 100 years ago
Azerbaijan, with full support from Turkey, ignites war
Armenians gripped by extreme fear

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, two countries located in the Caucasus corridor region where Europe and Asia meet, continues despite various diplomatic efforts, resulting in numerous casualties. The dispute between the two countries has intensified with the involvement of surrounding powers such as Russia, Turkey, and Iran. In particular, with Turkey's deep involvement in the current situation, the Armenian people are engulfed in even greater fear. This is because it reminds them of the "Armenian Genocide" carried out by the Ottoman Turk Empire, the predecessor of Turkey, over 100 years ago.

According to foreign media including Russia's TASS news agency, the fighting over the Nagorno-Karabakh region between Armenia and Azerbaijan entered its 28th day on the 24th (local time). Azerbaijan is reported to have taken control of a significant part of the lowlands in southern Nagorno-Karabakh, while Armenia is said to be on the defensive, blocking Azerbaijan's offensive in the northern mountainous area. Currently, the Nagorno-Karabakh region is internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, but it is a disputed area effectively controlled by Armenia. Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the two countries have been in conflict over this region.

Especially as Azerbaijan is known to receive support from Turkey, a military power in the region and ethnically and religiously close, the fear among Armenians has reached its peak. About 100 years ago, in 1915, the Ottoman Turk Empire, the predecessor of Turkey, invaded Armenia and carried out a genocide, resulting in the deaths of more than 1.5 million people. This was intertwined with the conflicts between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Turk Empire that were occurring throughout Eastern Europe at the time.

Since the 17th century, Russia and the Ottoman Turks, who had been clashing continuously, also fought fierce battles in the strategically important Caucasus corridor region. In particular, Russia had been continuously supporting Armenia's independence under the pretext that Armenia shared the Eastern Orthodox Christian faith with Russia. Later, when World War I broke out in 1914, the Ottoman Turks allied with Germany and Austria and fought against Russia, which was allied with Britain and France. During this war, the Ottoman Turk Empire carried out a genocide to eliminate Armenian independence forces. After World War I, both the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Turk Empire collapsed, and Armenia struggled to gain independence but was eventually reoccupied by the Soviet Union, remaining under Soviet rule for a long time.

Azerbaijan, which borders Armenia, was historically part of the Persian Empire and became an Islamic region as many Azeri people, who are ethnically Iranian Shia Muslims, settled there. Approximately 10 million Azeris live in Azerbaijan, and more than twice that number, about 25 million, live in Iran. Later, Russia expanded southward in the 19th century and began to control Azerbaijan, which had been Persian territory. Like Armenia, Azerbaijan remained under Russian control until the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The problem began after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Although most residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh region were ethnic Armenians, the area had been forcibly incorporated into Azerbaijan's jurisdiction by the Soviet Union. After the Soviet collapse, the Armenians wanted the region to belong to Armenia, but Azerbaijan refused, leading to war. Following a ceasefire agreement, the region remained internationally recognized as Azerbaijani territory, but Armenia maintained effective control, creating a contradictory situation. This is why the current war is interpreted as Azerbaijan, dissatisfied with this status quo, launching an offensive with full support from Turkey.

Consequently, the reactions of neighboring countries vary greatly depending on their interests. According to the BBC, Iran, a Shia Islamic country like Azerbaijan, maintains neutrality but is diplomatically closer to Armenia, which follows the Eastern Orthodox Church, and provides more support to Armenia. This is interpreted as Iran's concern that if Azerbaijan's power expands excessively, the Azeri population in northern border areas of Iran might secede and join Azerbaijan.

Conversely, Georgia, a representative Christian country in the Caucasus region, supports Azerbaijan. Israel, a sworn enemy of Iran, the Shia Islamic homeland, also supports Azerbaijan. Both countries are known to be hostile to Armenia. Russia, blamed as the root cause of all problems, is criticized for profiting by selling mercenaries and weapons to both sides. This war, which transcends religion, culture, and everything else, driven solely by national interests, is developing into a thorough war of attrition with no clear enemy or ally, raising concerns about the devastation of the region.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.