Russian political scientist: “The tragedy of 1918 must be recognized internationally and must not be forgotten”

The events of 1918 have still not received a full political and legal assessment.

This was stated by Russian political scientist and First Class State Advisor of the Russian Federation Tatyana Poliskova in a statement to The Daily Baku.

According to her, what happened during that period was the массовое уничтожение людей based on their ethnic identity, and it should unequivocally be assessed as genocide:
“The killing of tens of thousands of people solely because of their ethnic identity is genocide, and this history must be recognized at the international level. This is not only a tragedy of the past, but also a lesson for today.”

The political scientist noted that remembering such events and keeping them consistently on the agenda is important for preventing similar tragedies in the future. In her view, it is not enough to rely only on archival documents; a strong information policy is also required:
“Historical facts are important, but this is not enough. These events must be written about in the international media and discussed on decision making platforms. Otherwise, recognition of the truth becomes more difficult.”

Tatyana Poliskova emphasized that establishing lobbying mechanisms is also crucial for increasing international influence:
“Some countries have built effective lobbying systems over many years, and this plays a significant role in promoting their positions. Azerbaijan can also take more systematic steps in this direction.”

The expert believes that Azerbaijan has expanded its ties with the international expert community in recent years, but this process should be strengthened in parallel with cooperation with foreign media and information policy.

She also noted that mutual understanding and dialogue between societies are essential for sustainable peace in the region. At the same time, achieving long term stability seems difficult without a proper understanding of current realities and an objective approach to history.

In conclusion, the political scientist stated that with the right strategic approach and mutual will, it is possible to achieve real results in gaining international recognition of such tragedies:
“There are enough objective minded people in the world who understand who is right. If this issue is approached systematically, it is possible to bring it to a logical conclusion.”