Following the proclamation of Azerbaijan 's independence in 1918 , the Armenian nationalist Dashnaktsutyun Party became increasingly active in the then Bolshevik-occupied Baku . There were , according to Russian statistics , at this time 120,000 Armenians living in the Baku Province . A number of members of the governing body of the Baku Commune consisted of ethnic Armenians . Despite pledging non-involvement , the Dashnaks mobilized Armenian militia units to participate in the massacres of Baku 's Muslim population in March 1918 , killing thousands . Five months later , the Armenian community itself dwindled as thousands of Armenians either fled Baku or were massacred at the approach of the Turkish – Azeri army ( which seized the city from the Bolsheviks ) . Regardless of these events , on 18 December 1918 , ethnic Armenians ( including members of the Dashnaktsutyun ) were represented in the newly formed Azerbaijani parliament , constituting 11 of its 96 members
were massacred
September Days
Armenians in Baku