Rudolf Ivanov: Azerbaijani people have glorious military history

The Azerbaijani people along with the ancient history have also a glorious military history, the known Russian historian, a specialist on Caucasus, a member of the Russia’s Union of Writers and the Union of Journalists, professor Rudolf Ivanov said in a statement on 13 January 2006 in Baku during the meeting at the Institute of History under the Azerbaijan National Academy of Science, Trend reports.

The History Institute director Yagub Mammadov appreciated highly achievements of the Russian historian, who, according to him, “restored the historical truth” and “opposed the double standards”. According to the Azerbaijani scholar, the military history of Azerbaijan was distorted many a times by the order of the Armenian chauvinists, which tried to falsify the facts. However, he noted, thanks to the merits of such scientists, as Rudolf Ivanov the world will learn the genuine facts on the worthy history of Azerbaijan and other peoples of Caucasus.

The specialists of the Institute of History assessed positively the role of the new book by Ivanov “Defense of Bayazet: the truth and the lie”, which the author dedicated to the heroic deeds of the Azerbaijani generals during the defense of the Bayazet fortress during the Russian -Turkish war of 1877-1878 and noted that the book will be a valuable material for teaching history of that period.

It should be noted, Ivanov is currently in Baku at the invitation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation president, MP Mehriban Aliyeva, who is deeply interested in the works by the scientist.

Rudolf Ivanov is the author of 23 books and about 200 articles, among which the works on the history of the imperial Russia and Caucasus and books dedicated to the history of the people of Caucasus, heroic deeds of representatives of the Caucasus people and their role in defense and flourishing of the Russian Empire, the Honored journalist and the Milli Mejlis deputy Elmira Ahundova, who organized the meeting told the meeting participants. According to her, among his works a historical novel “Defense of Bayazet: the truth and the lie” draws a large attention.

According to Ahundova, a television movie “Bayazet” dedicated to the tragic episode of the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 and shot by the novel of Valentin Pikul, who, as Ahundova noted, was not always careful with the historical facts, was demonstrated by the Russian TV last year. However, the film authors moved away from the historical realities even more. And mostly distorted were the characters of the fortress defenders of the Moslem origin, she stressed.

Soon after the movie release a large article by Rudolf Ivanov entitled “Defense of Bayazet: the truth and the fiction” appeared in the Russian “Nezavisimaya gazeta” newspaper, in which the author depicted the true and real characters of the heroes and the fortress defenders, among which was also the colonel Ismail khan Nakhchivanski. According to Ahundova, contrary to the version of the film creators, the Russian scholar specifies the colonel Ismail khan Nakhchivanski as “courageous and the most honest army officer”, thanks to the courage and selflessness of which the surrender of the fortress was in many respects prevented. According to the studies of Ivanov, Ismail khan was honored with high awards of the Russian Empire.

According to Ahundova, having continued his researches Ivanov wrote a book “Defense of Bayazet: the truth and the lie”, in which he told on feats and heroic deeds of the Azerbaijanis, created remarkable portraits of Kelbali-khan and Ismail-khan Nakhichivanski.

According to the author himself, he is currently working over the historical novel, dedicated to Huseyn khan Nakhichevanski, the materials about whom he is going to collect by making a trip to Nakhchevan.