The Preparation of Sumgait Massacres

Abstract

This article aims at analyzing the facts and data on the mass violence including the facts about the preparation phase of murders and tortures against Armenians in the city of Sumgait in Soviet Azerbaijan from February 27th to 29th, 1988. The objective of the work is to substantiate the organized and coordinated nature of the mass violence through the analysis of actions aimed at preparing for the Sumgait massacres. The work is written by a combined examination of facts, applying the principles of historical analysis. Based on the results of the study, it can be asserted that in the period from February 27th to 29th, 1988, the persecution, murders, physical and psychological violence against Armenians in the city of Sumgait were thoroughly prepared. The massacres had organized nature. There is a lot of evidence proving that the actions of the slaughterers, the sowing of artificial hatred against Armenians, the systematic collection of data on the Armenian population of the city were planned and coordinated and the items used by criminals as weapons were prepared for that very purpose.