Rusya’nın Türkiye Siyasetinde Ermeni Kartı (1878-1918)
Russia’s Armenian Card in its Turkish Policy (1878-1918)

Summary/Abstract: The Armenians aroused the Russian interest from the mid-17th century till the First World War in a gradually increasing growing form. Behind Russia’s interest there was its traditional policy of southern expansion. The Russian target to effectuate this policy was creating an area of influence on Anatolian territories via the Armenians. Likewise, the Armenians dreamed getting their independence through making use of being a part of the mentioned Russian policy. In other words, Russo-Armenian relations, especially in the last era of the Ottoman Empire, developed as a cooperation on interest of two nations having different ambitions on the Ottoman lands. Because of their serious need for support of a foreign power to get their independence, the Armenians regarded Russia as the power they had been looking for. Thus, it has been historically observed that in the Turco-Russian struggles, the Armenians took position mostly in favor of the Russians. They joined the Russian armies and even fought against their own state, the Ottoman Empire. The Armenians who guided and fought with the Russian forces in Anatolia during the First World War are clear examples of the Russo-Armenian alliance against the Empire. In addition, hundred thousands of the Armenians supplied human power to Russia by migrating to the Russian territories. As is understood, in order to get their independence, the Armenians voluntarily accepted to be instrument of the expensionist Russian policies and struggled for it. Their cooperation with Russia gave Armenians the occasion to come to the international agenda and draw attention of the Great Powers through the Hagia Stephanos and Berlin agreements. However, Great Powers usually considered the Armenians as the pawn of their great games.

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