Republic of Aras
The Republic of Araks was a short-lived and unrecognized state in the South Caucasus, roughly corresponding with the territory that is now the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.
Named after the Araks River, the republic was declared in November 30, 1918 with support from the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic's ruling party, the Musavat Party.
Background
When the TDFR was dissolved in May 1918, Nakhichevan, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Zangezur (today the Armenian province of Syunik) were heavily contested between the newly formed and short-lived states of the Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA), Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) and Ottoman forces. Turkish Ottoman forces captured Nakchivan from retreating Russians and Armenians on June 4, 1918 and declared it a newly established general-governorship.[1]. Nakchivan and surrounding regions were declared to be a province of Ottoman Turkey. Ruling elite of the region was divided in their loyalty between Ottomans and Persian with Jafar Qulu Nakchivanski and his son Kelb Ali supporting Persians.
Under the terms of the Armistice of Mudros, the Ottomans agreed to pull its troops out of the Transcaucasus to make way for the forthcoming British military presence
Existence
In the wake of Ottoman retreat the republic was declared in November 30, 1918 by Amir Bek, Jafar Qulu and Kelb Ali Khan Nakhichevanskis. Amir Bek became an temporary head of state. Attempts to create a civil administration (State Council) and parlament were made but did not come to fruition. [2]. However militia forces were organized with help of former Ottoman representative Halil Pasha.
Araks republic was not officially recognized by the Parliament of ADR in Baku, and ADR offered only moral support to the conflict, due to its own strained position as a result of British occupation. Creation of Araks Republic led to confrontation with Armenia, as a part of continuing ethnic conflict. Late December, 1918 25 thousand strong Armenian force moved to occupy mostly Muslim populated parts of Nakchivan. The goverment of Amir Bek fell and Jafar Qulu Khan became the sole ruler of Araks republic.
At the same time, Nakchivan was declared British General-Governorship. During the visit of official represantative of ADR Bagirov on February 22, 1919 the Governor declared that "This territory is not yet part of Azerbaijan and its future is to be determined" British forces controlled the railroad, telegraph lines and taxed the population. Muslim population was coerced to send several thousand poods of wheat to starving parts of Armenia.
Some forces in unrecognized republic wanted to claim the region as the part of ADR, however in March 1919 unofficial Araks republic delegation visited Baku to plead with Baku to help discuss the status of Nakchichevan in Versailles peace talks. [3].
On May 1, 1919 Muslim-run administration of Araks republic were informed by British administration that Nakchiven is to be given to Armenia, for which prime-minister of Armenia G. Khatisov arrived to negotiate the settlement. However the majority of Muslim population according to Azeri sources refused to recognize the authority and surrender [4].
The Araks republic's existence finally ended when troops from the Democratic Republic of Armenia succeeded in taking control of the region in mid-June 1919 during the Araks War. Its creation was in protest to a border proposal by Sir John Oliver Wardrop, British Chief Commissioner in the South Caucasus.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Hajiev "Democratic Republics of South Western Caucasus", Baku, 2004 104
- ^ Madatov G. "Victory of Soviet power in Nakhichevan and creation of Nakhichevan A.S.S.R", Baku, 1968 (In Russian) 55
- ^ Hajiev "Democratic Republics of South Western Caucasus", Baku, 2004 122
- ^ Hajiev "Democratic Republics of South Western Caucasus", Baku, 2004 132
- ^ Atlas of Conflicts: Armenia: Nation Building and Territorial Disputes: 1918-1920
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