Sumgait Pogrom: Anti-Armenian Violence Erupts
Anti-Armenian pogrom in Sumgait, Azerbaijan results in dozens of deaths and marks escalation of ethnic violence
A violent pogrom against the Armenian population erupted in Sumgait, an industrial city near Baku, resulting in at least 32 deaths according to official figures, though Armenian sources claim the toll was much higher.
The Violence
Beginning on February 27 and lasting three days, mobs attacked Armenian residents, burning apartments, looting property, and committing acts of extreme violence. The pogrom was sparked by rumors and inflammatory rhetoric following the Nagorno-Karabakh transfer request.
Casualties and Damage
- Official death toll: 32 (26 Armenians, 6 Azerbaijanis)
- Unofficial estimates: Up to 200 deaths
- Injured: Hundreds wounded
- Property: Dozens of apartments burned and looted
Response
Soviet troops were deployed after a significant delay, leading to criticism of authorities for failing to prevent or quickly stop the violence. Many Armenians fled Sumgait permanently.
Impact
The Sumgait pogrom:
- Deepened ethnic divisions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis
- Led to reciprocal violence and population exchanges
- Marked the transformation of political dispute into ethnic conflict
- Remains a defining traumatic event in Armenian collective memory