Historian says Sumgait crime was the result of Azerbaijan’s policy on
ethnic cleansing
14:22, 28 February, 2015
YEREVAN, 28 FEBRUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Sumgait crime was the result of
Azerbaijan’s policy on ethnic cleansing. “Azerbaijan had been leading
a policy on ethnic cleansing against ethnic minorities residing in the
country for years, and the Sumgait Pogrom was the result of that
policy,” historian Gevorg Melkonyan said during a February 28 press
conference, as “Armenpress” reports.
Melkonyan mentioned that the crime of Sumgait showed three things.
“Firstly, the Sumgait Pogrom reinforced in Armenians the conviction
that if Artsakh hadn’t struggled, it would have been emptied of
Armenians, just like Nakhichevan. Secondly, Azerbaijan isn’t ready to
accept the principle of self-determination of nations. Thirdly, as the
years go by, ethnic minorities residing in Azerbaijan will be subject
to ethnic cleansing,” Melkonyan underscored.
Touching upon the international condemnation of the Sumgait pogrom, he
noted that Armenia can use the facts at its disposal to raise that
issue at the international level.