In the early 1920s, the South Caucasus region faced significant turmoil as a result of geopolitical shifts following World War I. The territory of Nagorno Karabakh, predominantly inhabited by Armenians, became a focal point of conflict between various nationalist movements. On March 22, 1920, Azeri and Turkish military units, joined by Kurdish gangs, conducted a concerted assault on the Armenian community residing in Shushi. The attack was part of a broader strategy to take control of territories with contentious ethnic compositions.

The strategic significance of Shushi was underscored by its geographical location and its role as a cultural hub for the Armenian people in the region. As the attackers advanced, they employed severe measures to instill fear and coerce the Armenians into submission. Reports from the time indicate that the assault was marked by atrocities, including killings and mass displacements. The local population, which had originally expected some level of protection or neutrality, found itself facing violent oppression.

As a consequence of the attack, thousands of Armenians fled or were killed, dramatically changing the population dynamics of the area. The ensuing chaos added layers of complexity to the already fraught relations between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and various ethnic groups in the region, laying the groundwork for future conflicts. This event highlighted the volatility of national identities in post-imperial contexts and the role that external forces played in exacerbating local tensions.