at the beginning of the 16th century, the region became part of safavid persia. at the beginning of the 18th century, the armenian population of kajarants and the surrounding area was largely involved in the armenian liberation campaign led by david bek, against safavid persia and the invading ottoman turks. the persians ruled until the beginning of the 19th century, many territories of armenia -including syunik-, became part of the russian empire as a result of the treaty of gulistan signed on 24 october 1813, between russia and qajar persia.