Message from Bagirov and Maslennikov on Iranian Brigade in Rezaye

[handwritten:] “No 244/3005-3009 by cipher, to [illegible]”

To Cde. Stalin

To Cde. Molotov

To Cde. Beriya

To Cde. Malenkov

In [intelligence] information of 15 December we reported that the commander of the Iranian brigade in Rezaye, Colonel Zengine, and the Chief of the Gendarmerie, Nurinbakhsh, have declared to our consul that they are ready to give an order to the garrison to yield its weapons.

At the same time, beginning on the morning of 15 December the Rezaye Brigade took up a defense on the outskirts of the city, deployed tanks, and engaged in firefights with partisans situated in the outskirts of the city.

Inside the city soldiers and gendarmerie began reprisals against unarmed democrats, flushing them out and arresting them. Five members of the Democratic Party were shot by gendarmes. With the onset of darkness the firefight on the outskirts of the city ceased.

Comrades from Tabriz requested permission to be allowed to go to the Rezaye garrison together with Kurdish partisans [and] send weapons and partisan detachments from Tabriz to the Rezaye region.

We gave [these] orders:

1. Send authoritative comrades from Tabriz to Rezaye to take the necessary measures on site by peaceful means to prevent clashes and the disarming of the brigade.

2. It was suggested [they] use local spiritual and other authorities to influence the command of the brigade and achieve a voluntary handover of weapons.

3. Not allow the Kurds to disarm the brigade.

4. Cut off the Rezaye garrison from communications with both Tehran and other cities.

5. Agree with the proposal of the Tabriz comrades to send to Rezaye additional weapons and selected tested partisans from Tabriz.

x    x    x

On the 15^th of December the 9^th Iranian Infantry Brigade in Ardebil’ voluntarily  began to hand over [their] weapons to the democrats. After disarming, the soldiers and officers of the brigade dispersed to their homes. The military housing area is being guarded by the democrats.

M. D. Bagirov

[signed]

I. I. Maslennikov

[signed]

16 December 1945

[handwritten at the bottom left: “16.12.45 03.15 [[1]]4.00 {illegible signature, possibly Gril’yev}]