History of 'Great Terror' in Azerbaijan

The Moscow State Institute of International Relations hosted the presentation of a book by the Azerbaijani historian Eldar Ismailov, "History of the 'Great Terror' in Azerbaijan." The event was organized by the Azerbaijani club of MGIMO. The book is published by the Moscow publishing house ROSSPEN as part of the scientific and publishing project 'The History of Stalinism'. Doctor of historical sciences, Professor of Baku State University, Eldar Ismailov (1950-2014), made an analysis of the life of the Azerbaijani SSR during Stalin's repressions in 1936-1938. According to the author, the 'Great Terror' in the Azerbaijan SSR was not directed against Azerbaijanis, his victims were Soviet citizens regardless of their nationality or religion. However, the repressions predetermined a loss of confidence in the government by representatives of many nationalities inhabiting the Soviet Union.

"The 'Great Terror' was a black page in the history of our former common country," the first secretary of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Russia, Eldar Bayramov, said on the presentation of book. "The analysis in this study allows us to understand the scale of those events, gives us an idea of ​​their premises and their consequences in the history of Azerbaijan. The advantage of the book is that it considers the "Great Terror" in Azerbaijan in the context of the general Soviet political and historical processes which took place then, and holds a very detailed analysis of all these particular cases, specific lists in a Russian monograph. This is not just articles, but a monograph.’’

The lawyer Azer Kocharli believes ‘’the publication of this book is very relevant and gratifying, because this is our history. This story is always necessary to know, because it is not right to forget such black spots, because any experience is an experience, it is necessary to cherish and grow from this experience. This problem must be approached with a view of the historical reality in which these processes occurred. Of course, no one justifies those terrible events, but the historical reality that existed at that time still puts its stamp on the awareness of these processes."

Candidate of Historical Sciences Eldar Abbasov believes the publication is a great event, "the Azerbaijani historian's study is published in Russia in the framework of a major publication of a series of studies. The book is very useful, very important. I am sure that people, especially students and young people, will read it (although it is a serious historical research) as a popular novel.’’