Armenian nationalist leaders warned that any attempt by troops to disarm the militias operating there might produce a bloodbath.

The Armenian leaders went to Persia to avoid arrest an possible execution by the Soviets.

As a response, Armenian leaders have stated Azerbaijan was "exploiting Islam to muster greater international support."

Some Armenian leaders set themselves up as sovereign lords, while others remained, at least in name, loyal to the Empire.

Armenian religious leaders invited to attend the opening ceremony opted to boycott the event, because the church was being reopened as a secular museum.

The Armenian leader said he had tried since April 6 to warn the authorities in Moscow against any action in the villages.

"It is not a dead city," conceded an Armenian nationalist leader, Rafael Popoyan.

He had presided over a meeting of Armenian leaders.

In June, 1915, the region's Armenian religious leader was executed.

Previous efforts to bring the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders together have failed.