133
There is nothing I can add to this.
Read aloud and signed in Arabic characters
Translated by E.Khanbudaghov (certified by a signature)
Signed by A.Novatski, the member of the Commission
Reference: SARA, f.1061, op.1, d.96, l.33
File No.56
Record of Examination
On this 15th day of December, 1918, in Guba
Novatski, the member of the Ad Hoc Investigation Commission
established by the Government of Azerbaijan, examined the following
person as a witness, pursuant to the Criminal Court Regulations:
Witness: Aliabbas Alibeyov, the Head of the Guba Munici-
pality, aged 49.
In April this year, someone notified me from Khachmaz station
about a Bolshevik military unit intending to head towards the town of
Guba. As Guba residents, we sent investigator Manuylov33, the Jewish
representative Nuvah Aghababayev, and Shukur Babayev as following
envoys to Khachmaz to find out talk to the goals of the Bolsheviks
in Guba. Upon their return, the envoys advised us of the Bolsheviks’
intent to subdue Guba and the whole Uyezd and establish their order
here. They also advices the envoys to head off to Baku to figure out
the issue with the Bolsheviks ring leaders.
The next day, a Bolshevik Georgi (David) Ghelovani arrived in
Guba together with Mirjafar Baghirov34, a Muslim resident of Guba
and a fervent Bolshevik. Ghelovani stated that the reason of his arrival
in Guba was to find out whether there was a need for the Soviet rule
here. And he found out there was such a need. It should be hereby
noted that at that moment, forty Armenians were isolated in Guba’s
prison. Since we were worried about some violent actions towards
them by certain thugs, this was the way we tried to safeguard them.
Ghelovani concluded there was no danger for them and set them
free. He left for Khachmaz afterwards.
Some 6 days after, he arrived in Guba again with a 170-strong
Bolshevik squad armed with machineguns. The squad was manned
Documents on the Devastation of Guba
Witness Testimonies of Residents of the Town of Guba