The Course and Characteristics of Armenian-Russian Political Relations in 1912—1915 (Based on the Correspondence between the Caucasian Viceroy I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov and the Catholicos of all Armenians Gevorg V Surenyants)

The article presents the letters exchanged between the Catholicos of All Armenians Gevorg V Surenyants and the Caucasian Viceroy I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov, which have so far received insufficient scholarly attention. It highlights the worsening situation of the Western Armenians in Ottoman Empire, which predetermined the central theme of this correspondence. The Catholicos sought, through the mediation of Viceroy Vorontsov-Dashkov, to secure the intervention of the Russian government in defending the interests of the Armenian population in Europe and to pressure Turkey into implementing reforms in Western Armenia. Special attention is given to the question of why it was specifically Vorontsov-Dashkov with whom the Catholicos established this correspondence. Through the analysis of materials contained in the correspondence, an attempt is made to identify the characteristics of Armenian-Russian political relations after the Balkan War, the position of the Russian side on the Armenian reforms, and the decisive role of Armenian-Russian cooperation in bringing the Armenian Question to international platforms — which constituted the ideology of the Primatial See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The authors conclude that although the primary goal of Armenian figures-to raise the issue of Armenian reforms under Russian auspices at the London Conference-was not achieved, the efforts undertaken contributed to the expansion of Armenian-Russian political relations and the promotion of the Armenian Question on the international stage.