Bearing in mind the role which Russia had played in the decisive liberation of each and every of these nations from the oppression of the Ottoman Turks, these peoples might be labelled ungrateful. Nonetheless, the conspiracy and aggressive manner of the Russian rule had breached the trust of these nations through its mistakes and impudence.
Russia felt a this failure and hostility sorely, expressing disappointment and indignation, especially towards Bulgaria which had been freed from the Turks due to the contiuned efforts of Russia over several years. Indeed, ironically Bulgaria came to have a close and friendly relationship with the Ottoman Empire for a number of decades.
Russia's action in the Armenian Question was, to a great extent, affected by its preceding bitter experiences in the Balkans. 48 Thus a Russian politician in the presence of Dillon (an Irish politician), insolently stated: "We have two ways of treating the Christian people in the Orient, characterised by the relations which we have had with Georgia and Bulgaria. When the Georgians, at the end of the 18th century, were subject to Persian attacks, they called desperately for our help as an ally, but we answered that we were busy in other places. The Persians plundered and destroyed their country and killed two out of three Georgians. Then the Georgians turned once more to us, this time not as a friend and ally, but as oppressed beggars. This time we went in and annexed their country to ours. But, in Bulgaria's case, we made an unforgivable mistake and hurried to their rescue without first letting two out of three Bulgarians be murdered. We saved them unconditionally from the oppression of the Turks with the result now that our own Bulgarian little brother has become our enemy. Now we have decided not to repeat this mistake in the case of the Armenians and the Macedonians." 49
Moreover, after the assassination of Tsar Alexander II and the resignation of Loris Melikian (the Armenian commander and interior minister of Russia), the policy of the Russian government, in regard to domestic issues, fell to a reactionary group led by Pobedonostev. This group began to pursue its policy of compulsory russification of all non-Russian people, especially those people who in the opinion of the leadership were more developed, such as Finns, Baltic peoples, Polacks and Armenians.
The Russian leadership, in their hostility towards the Eastern Armenians, recognised that the implementation of reforms in Western Armenian provinces would be the first step towards the self-governance of Armenia ultimately leading to an independent Armenia, in turn influencing the Eastern Armenians and hindering the future influence of Russia in Asia Minor. 51
Russia's policy from 1881, after the coronation of Tsar Alexander III, became clearer in the course of time, especially from 1890 onwards.
England, unlike Russia, became enthusiastically involved in the development and progress of the nations in the Balkans and argued that as soon as the Christian people in the Orient freed themselves from Turkish rule, they would not fall under the influence of Russia, but would demand a free and independent life.
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