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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Armenian National Congress (or Congress of Eastern Armenians[1][2]) was a political congress established to provide representation for the Armenians of Russia.[3][4][5] It first met at the Artistic Theatre in Tbilisi on 11 October [O.S. 28 September] 1917.[6][7][8][9][10] Its formation was prompted by the opportunities the Russian Revolution provided for Armenians (and other minority nationalities in Russia) towards the end of World War I.[4]
The congress consisted of 204[1] members from all over the Russian Empire, with only Armenian Bolsheviks refusing to take part for ideological reasons.[11] It was dominated by the Dashnak Party.[6][10][12][13][14]
The composition along party lines was as follows:[15]
Since a real government did not exist in the Yerevan province of Armenia, the Armenian National Congress served as a government for the province.[16] According to Richard Hovannisian, the Congress was "the most comprehensive Eastern Armenian gathering since the Russian conquest of Transcaucasia".[6] The immediate objectives of the Congress were to devise a strategy for the war effort, provide relief for refugees, and provide local autonomy for various Armenian-run institutions throughout the Caucasus.[4] The Congress also called for the militarization of the Caucasus front.[17][18] The Armenian National Congress supported the policies of the Russian Provisional Government concerning the war, and also suggested redrawing provincial boundaries along ethnic lines.[19] The Congress was instrumental in the secularization of Armenian schools and the nationalization of secondary Armenian schools.[17]
The Congress met for 18 sessions before it dissolved on 26 October [O.S. 13 October] 1917.[20]
Before dissolving, the Congress created a National Assembly of 35 members to act as a legislative body for Armenians under the Russian Republic.[21] It also created an executive body of 15 members called the Armenian National Council, headed by Avetis Aharonian.[5][22][23] This council eventually declared independence for the First Republic of Armenia led by Aram Manukian in May 1918.[3][4][5]
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