Վաչէ Ղազարեան2026-06-102026-06-102020Ղազարեան, Վ., «Վանի երկրորդ հայկական ժամանակաւոր կառավարութեան գործունէութիւնն ու վերջին գաղթը ներկայացնող տեղեկագիր մը», «Հայկազեան հայագիտական հանդէս», 2020, Պէյրութ, էջ 149-187https://haigrepository.haigazian.edu.lb/handle/123456789/1375The Russian Revolution of October 1917 was followed by a call to the Russian troops to return home from the Turkish front, where they were viewed as liberators of historical Armenian lands. The recall of Russian soldiers signaled an opportunity for the Turkish army to move upon and repossess the vacated historical Armenian territories, and it was a signal to the Armenians to think of their own survival. Thus, the Armenians of Van formed a government, which became known as the Second Temporary Armenian Government of Van. The government's purpose was to organize life in Van, normalize relations with nearby Kurds, if possible, and strengthen ties with neighboring Assyrians. This was all done with the backing of the British military headquartered in Tbilisi, Georgia. However, the eastward advance of the Turkish army and the intensification of armed hostilities by Kurds in and around Van forced the temporary government to shift attention towards a safe relocation of the Armenian population to Armenia through Iran. This migration of Armenians of Van became known as the Last Retreat or Exodus of Van. While many eyewitness accounts and memoirs relating to this temporary government and the events that took place during the exodus exist, this report may serve as the most reliable source, not only as to its correctness but also as to its completeness with regard to what is known to date about the temporary government and the migration. It also sheds light on the roles played by the British, Russian, Turkish, Kurdish, Iranian, and Assyrian players in the region. The report covers the period from December 1917 through November 1918 and was written no later than in January 1919 by the minister of agriculture of the temporary government, upon the request of close surviving associates.