Shahumian region

Formerly: Gulistan; in 1930 was renamed in honor of Stephan Shahumian. Situated in the north of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Gulistan historically was part of Gulistan principality of Artsakh, governed by the Melik Beghlarian family. The Treaty of Gulistan was signed here in 1813. In 1921, Gulistan with the rest of Karabakh was forcibly attached to Azerbaijan. However, Gulistan was not included into the "Autonomous Region of Nagorno-Karabakh" formed in 1923.
After Azerbaijan declared independence in August 1991, the joint sitting of the Nagorno-Karabakh and Shahumian deputies proclaimed an independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (comprising the former autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Shahumian region). The independence of the NKR was officially asserted in a referendum held on December 10, 1991. The Shahumian region became scene of military operations since 1990. The region is presently under the Azeri occupation.

www.ArmenianHistory.info