Armenians in Nakhchivan

Armenians in Nakhchivan
Total population
0
Regions with significant populations
Nakhchivan
Languages
Armenian
Religion
Armenian Apostolic Church
Related ethnic groups
Armenians in Azerbaijan, Armenians in Baku

Armenians had a historic presence in Nakhchivan (Armenian: Նախիջևան, Armenian pronunciation: [nɑχidʒɛvɑn]). According to an Armenian tradition, Nakhchivan was founded by Noah, of the Abrahamic religions. Following the transfer of the region to the Azerbaijani SSR, the region observed a significant demographic shift.

Amid anti-Armenian sentiment and policies in Azerbaijan, the Armenian population gradually decreased to around 0%. Still some Armenian political groupings of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora, claim that Nakhchivan should belong to Armenia. The Medieval Armenian cemetery of Jugha (Julfa) in Nakhchivan, regarded by Armenians as the biggest and most precious repository of medieval headstones marked with Christian crosses – khachkars (of which more than 2,000 were still there in the late 1980s), was completely demolished by 2006 by Azerbaijan.