Professor: Armenian atrocities of 1914-1915 aimed to de-Turkify region

The purpose of Armenian atrocities during 1914-1915 was to de-Turkify the region, Toghrul Ismayil, a professor at Turkish Sutcu Imam University, told Report.

Professor Ismayil argued that it is inadequate to examine only the massacres committed by Armenians during 1914-1915.

He highlighted historical context, stating: "After the Treaty of Edirne (1829), the ethnic balance in the region changed, and games over the Armenian issue began. Between 1829-1914, a significant number of Armenians were settled in the region. The first massacres committed by Armenians in Azerbaijan occurred in 1905-1906. Subsequent mass killings covered the years 1915-1918."

He further emphasized archival data, noting that Russian archives record 600,000 deaths and Ottoman archives record 750,000 deaths attributed to Armenian oppression during those periods.