A seven-day pogrom breaks out against the Armenian civilian population of Baku, Azerbaijan, during which Armenians were beaten, tortured, murdered, and expelled from the city.

The Baku Pogrom of January 1990: A Systematized Campaign of Violence

The Baku pogrom (Armenian: Բաքվի ջարդեր, Bakvi jarder) refers to a devastating, seven-day campaign of violence specifically targeting the ethnic Armenian population residing in Baku, then the capital of the Azerbaijan SSR. This horrific event, which commenced on January 12, 1990, marked a grim chapter in the escalating ethnic tensions during the final years of the Soviet Union. A pogrom, by definition, is an organized massacre, often officially tolerated or condoned, of a particular ethnic or religious group, and the events in Baku tragically fit this description.

Escalation of Violence and Targeted Attacks

Beginning on January 12, 1990, and lasting for a brutal seven days until January 19, Armenian civilians in Baku faced systematic assault. The attacks included severe beatings, widespread murders, and forced expulsion from their homes and the city. Beyond physical violence, the pogrom was characterized by extensive raids on Armenian-owned apartments, rampant robberies, and deliberate arsons, aimed at destroying property and livelihood. These acts were not random; they were part of a broader, organized effort.

As meticulously documented by Human Rights Watch reporter Robert Kushen, the scale and nature of the violence strongly suggested a coordinated effort rather than spontaneous outbursts. Kushen noted, "the action was not entirely (or perhaps not at all) spontaneous, as the attackers had lists of Armenians and their addresses." This critical finding indicated a deliberate and planned targeting of individuals and families, allowing perpetrators to efficiently locate and attack Armenian residents across the sprawling city. While official Soviet figures reported a lower death toll, independent sources and human rights organizations suggest that dozens, possibly hundreds, of Armenians were killed, and tens of thousands were ultimately driven out of Baku, forced to become refugees.

Context: The First Nagorno-Karabakh War

The Baku pogrom was not an isolated incident but a critical and tragic manifestation of the escalating ethnic violence intrinsically linked to the nascent First Nagorno-Karabakh War. This conflict emerged from the persistent demands of the ethnic Armenian majority in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) to secede from Soviet Azerbaijan and unify with the Armenian SSR. As these calls for self-determination grew louder and were met with staunch opposition from Azerbaijani authorities, ethnic tensions across the region, including in large cities like Baku, reached a boiling point. The pogrom served as a brutal response aimed at suppressing these demands and forcibly altering the demographic landscape of Baku, historically a multi-ethnic city with a significant Armenian presence. The events in Baku followed earlier, smaller-scale pogroms against Armenians in Sumgait (1988) and Kirovabad (Ganja) (1988), demonstrating a disturbing pattern of ethnic cleansing as the Soviet Union unraveled.

Lasting Consequences and Historical Significance

The immediate consequence of the Baku pogrom was the near-total elimination of the Armenian community in Baku, a city that had once been home to over 200,000 Armenians. Survivors often fled as refugees, many seeking asylum in Armenia or other former Soviet republics, or dispersing globally. This forced displacement represented a significant demographic shift and a profound loss of cultural heritage in Baku. Historically, the pogrom is viewed as a pivotal event that further inflamed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, contributing to its transformation into a full-scale war. It highlighted the Soviet authorities' inability or unwillingness to protect minority populations amidst rising nationalism, further eroding trust and exacerbating inter-ethnic hostility in the South Caucasus for decades to come.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Baku Pogrom

What was the Baku pogrom?
The Baku pogrom was a week-long series of organized attacks, including beatings, murders, robberies, and arsons, specifically targeting the ethnic Armenian civilian population in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, from January 12 to January 19, 1990.
When did the Baku pogrom take place?
It occurred from January 12 to January 19, 1990.
What was the primary cause or context of the Baku pogrom?
The pogrom took place within the broader context of the escalating ethnic tensions of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and was largely a violent response to the demands of Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia.
Was the Baku pogrom a spontaneous event?
According to Human Rights Watch, the attacks were not spontaneous; perpetrators reportedly had lists of Armenian residents and their addresses, indicating a premeditated and organized nature.
What were the immediate consequences for Armenians in Baku?
Thousands of Armenians were forcibly expelled, became refugees, or were killed, leading to the near-total disappearance of the once significant Armenian community in Baku.