November 21, 1945
Telegram from Baku to Moscow, 'The Situation in Iranian Azerbaijan'
This document was made possible with support from Leon Levy Foundation
TELEGRAM
FROM BAKU 21 November 1945
to MOSCOW, to Cdes. STALIN, MOLOTOV, BERIA, and MALENKOV
We report the situation in Iranian Azerbaijan per information as of 1000 21 November.
On 20 November the National Assembly of Azerbaijan opened in a theater in the city of Tabriz. Delegates from all regions of Azerbaijan are participating in the meeting with the exception of Ardabil and Sarab, who did not manage to arrive by the time the session opened in view of snowdrifts in the passes. Haji Azim Khan, the eldest delegate and brother of the famous, one of the oldest figures of the democratic movement in Iranian Azerbaijan, Sattar-Khan, opened the session. The first session of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan proceeded amidst great enthusiasm. Representatives of all strata of the city of Tabriz, the intelligentsia, merchants, clergy, army, and women, welcomed the delegates. At the evening session of the Assembly Pishevari, the Chairman of the CC of the Democratic Party, will give a report on the situation in Iranian Azerbaijan and the tasks of the democratic movement. It is calm in Tabriz, there are no incidents.
The activity of the partisans:
In a number of regions the partisans have been less active compared with the first days of their organizations. The partisans, who made short work of reactionary landowners and disarmed individual gendarme posts who showed their worth in fierce reprisals against peasants and democratic elements, have gone over to the defensive. The cold weather and snowfall which have started are also being reflected in the activity of the partisans. The partisans need warm clothing and money. [We] have been forced to support them a little materially. Additional partisan detachments have been organized in the area of the city of Marand with a total strength of 400 men and a large detachment in the city of Rezayeh. In areas where there are no partisan detachments reactionary elements, the gendarmerie, and local authorities are arming themselves feverishly and creating armed groups against partisan detachments with the goal of affecting the morale of the population. They spread rumors about large units of Iranian troops moving from Tehran and central Kurdistan to deal with the partisans.
M. D. BAGIROV
I. I. MASLENNIKOV
Received via VCh
21 Nov 1945
Telegram to top Soviet officials that describes the opening of the Azerbaijani National Assembly in Tabriz. Also notes that Azerbaijani partisans are now on the defensive, having overcome most of the landowners and gendarmerie units in the area. Indicates that partisans have begun to rely partially on Soviet support.
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