Forgotten Exile

The Deportations of Azerbaijanis by the Armenians in the Caucasus during the Twentieth Century

A significant part of our original primary sources derive from the personal remembrances of Ali Askerov, one of the two authors of this book. He is an ethnic Azerbaijani scholar who was born and lived in an area of present-day Armenia during the first part of his life. He was forced to leave his place of birth at the age of 18 in July 1988. Indeed, his family, as did several hundred thousand other Azerbaijanis, had lived in these places for many centuries, but were deported into exile or ethnically cleansed during the twentieth century by the Armenians. The Armenians did this to create an ethnically homogenous area in which they could create their own ethnically-based Armenian state. In addition to Professor Askerov’s detailed remembrances, this book is based on primary archival material and interviews obtained from sources in contemporary Armenia, Azerbaijan, and elsewhere as well as a variety of secondary sources written by Azerbaijanis, Armenians, and many others.
Copyright Year:
2025
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978-90-04-73591-0
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22 Sep 2025
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978-90-04-73590-3
Publication:
02 Oct 2025
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Ali Askerov is a faculty member at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, specializing in peace and conflict studies. His research focuses on ethno-political conflicts, forced migration, refugee issues, and structural violence, with a recent emphasis on Russia’s aggressive policies. He has authored seven books and numerous articles, contributing valuable insights to the field.

Michael M. Gunter is Professor of Political Science at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee. In the past he taught courses for many years during the summer at the International University in Vienna, as well as courses on Armenian, Kurdish and Middle Eastern politics, among others, for the US Government Areas Studies Program and US Department of State Foreign Service. He has authored or edited 23 peer-reviewed books and more than 200 articles and book chapters.
"Professors Ali Askerov’s and Michael Gunter’s Forgotten Exile fill a much needed void in the literature of late twentieth century Caucasian deportations and diasporas. Ali Askerov’s and Michael Gunter’s work brings balance to, what has been until now, an Armenian-centric historiography that excluded the plight of the Azerbaijanis. Highly recommended!" -Professor Edward J. Erickson, Marine Corps University (retired).

"Forgotten Exile is a profound exploration of the Armenians' systematic displacement of Azerbaijanis in the Caucasus during the twentieth century. Drawing upon archival evidence, personal testimonies, and balanced analysis, this book illuminates overlooked tragedies and fosters a deeper understanding of a complex history." Shamkhal Abilov, PhD researcher. Humboldt University of Berlin.

"This books covers an understudied topic, namely the ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis from Armenia based on primary and secondary sources and thefore fills a significant void in the literature on the Caucasus and studies on ethnic conflict and nationalism." -Umut Uzer, Associate Professor, Istanbul Technical University.

"This groundbreaking book provides a vital, well-researched analysis of the systematic displacement and ethnic cleansing of Azerbaijanis in Armenia from 1905 to 1989. The authors challenge dominant narratives by combining archival sources, firsthand accounts, and scholarly critique while maintaining intellectual rigor and objectivity. The book broadens its relevance beyond the Caucasus by placing these events within a global context of forced migration. Thoughtful, balanced, and meticulously documented, this study is an essential contribution to understanding ethnic conflict, nation-state formation, and historical injustices. A must-read for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in the geopolitics of the region." - M. Hakan Yavuz, Professor of Political Science, University of Utah, ed. The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict: Historical and Political Perspectives (2023).
Preface

1 What Are Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing?

2 Background

3 Violence and Forced Displacement: 1905–1906
 1 Introduction
 2 Demographic Shifts Pre- and Post-Russian Rule in the Region
 3 The Scale of the Events
 4 Causes of the 1905 Violence
 5 De-escalation Attempts and Fruitless Talks
 6 Conclusion

4 Second Wave of Ethnic Cleansing and Forced Displacement: 1918–1920
 1 Introduction
 2 Armenia’s Territorial Expansion through Violence
 3 The Geography of Ethnic Cleansing
 4 Conclusion

5 The Third Deportation: 1948–1953
 1 Introduction
 2 Alleged Security Issues
 3 Underlying Factors for the Deportation
 4 Challenges Faced in Azerbaijan
 5 Resettlement Sites for the Deportees
 6 The Unauthorized Return
 7 Deportation Figures and Cultural Consequences
 8 Conclusion

6 Pressures against Azerbaijanis in Armenia during the 1960s–70s and Early 1980s
 1 Introduction
 2 The 1960s: Armenian Underground Activities and the First Protest
 3 Repressive Measures against Azerbaijanis in the 1960s–1970s
 4 Early 1980s
 5 Conclusion

7 The Fourth Wave of Forced Displacement and Ethnic Cleansing: 1988–1989
 1 Introduction
 2 Resurgence of the Karabakh Conflict
 3 From Latent Conflict to Overt War
 4 The Sumgait Events
 5 The Gugark Pogroms of Azerbaijanis in Armenia
 6 The Tragic Events of Black January 20, 1990
 7 Deportation and Ethnic Cleansing of Azerbaijanis from Armenia: the Final Stage
 8 Azerbaijan’s Regions Claimed by Armenia
 9 Conclusion

8 The Role of the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict
 1 Introduction
 2 The Start of the Conflict
 3 From Latent Conflict to Full-Scale War
 4 Russian Support for Armenia
 5 Conclusion

9 Lost Heritage: Former Azerbaijani Villages and Toponyms in Present-Day Armenia
 1 Introduction
 2 The Renamed Azerbaijani Settlements in Armenia
 3 Districts or Rayons
 4 Azerbaijani Villages in Armenia
 5 Conclusion

10 Conclusion
Appendix 1: Maps of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic and Azerbaijan Soviet Republic
Appendix 2: Council of Ministers of USSR, Resolution No 4083
Appendix 3: Malenkov’s Telegram to Bagirov and Bagirov’s Response Letter
Bibliography
Index
This book will be of immediate interest to academic libraries, academics, and governmental practitioners in post-Soviet conflict, Caucasian, Turkic, Azerbaijani, and Armenian studies.
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