ARF: Sumgait massacres, 44-day Artsakh war and its occupation  demonstrate Baku`s long-term strategic ambitions in the South  Caucasus

ArmInfo.Azerbaijan's anti-Armenian policy, openly demonstrated in the staging of the trial in Baku, as well as during the negotiations on the so-called "peace" treaty, is aimed at the disintegration of Armenian statehood and the elimination of the Armenian political factor. This is noted in the statement of the ARF "Dashnaktsutyun" (ARF) on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the massacres of Armenians in Sumgait.

As the ARF recalled, February 1988 marked the start of a national  awakening and liberation struggle of the new era, that ultimately led  to the restoration of Armenia's independence and the creation of the  Republic of Artsakh. The statement specifically mentions Azerbaijan,  taking advantage of the indifference of the Soviet authorities,  organized bloody pogroms of the Armenian population in Sumgait from  February 27 to 29, 1988, followed by similar acts of violence and  ethnic cleansing in Baku, Gandzak, Shamkhor and other cities, in  response to the peaceful demands of the Armenians of Artsakh for  their constitutional rights. 

 The ARF added that Dashnaktsutyun will continue to pursue  recognition, condemnation and fair compensation for the genocidal  acts carried out by Azerbaijan in 1988-1990. In this regard, it is  noted that a crucial aspect of the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations  should focus on ensuring fair compensation and the return of the  victims of the genocide committed in Sumgait and other cities, as  well as the immediate release of all prisoners of war and hostages  held in Baku.