Introduction
There are some memories of the former Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, such as the Sumgait events of 1988 and the Khojaly massacre of 1992, that are deeply ingrained in the memories of those who were affected by them and may remain unforgettable in general. These are two of the most significant events that took place in the history of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan; that is characterized by violence, killings, and forced displacement of people and has had a profound impact on the conflict. Therefore, this study aims to examine these two pivotal events of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict comparatively. Within the scope of the study, the following research questions are going to be addressed: What were Russia’s imperialistic interests in its ‘passive’ and ‘active’ involvement in both cases? Did the parties to the conflict exhibit a motive of denialism concerning the compared cases? Lastly, were there any premeditated and deliberate actions during the events? Thus, to effectively address the research questions posed in this study, it is essential to provide a concise yet comprehensive overview of both events. This contextual background will serve to delineate the scope of the investigation, thereby enhancing the readers’ clarity and depth of understanding.
