Resolution by the Government of the Republic of

Azerbaijan on the Establishment of the

Ad Hoc Investigation Commission

REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT

For the period of four months so far, various parts of Azerbaijan

have been torn apart by gangs acting under the guise of the Bol-

sheviks, irresponsible Armenian squads and others are perpetrating

unprecedented atrocities against the Muslim civilians sparing neither

their lives nor assets. In the meantime, a totally different public opi-

nion is created in Europe due to the perverted information channeled

by the masterminds of these gangs. To better advocate the national

interests, as well as interests of the affected groups of population the

foundation of an agency appears absolutely necessary. The agency in

question shall be in charge for the following:

1. To keep precise records of all cases of violence;

2. To keep records of the circumstances under which this vio-

lence took place;

3. To identify culprits and the scope of damage inflicted by their

actions.

This organization shall be formed as the

Ad Hoc Investigation

Commission

, its works published in major European languages (i.e.

Russian, French and German, and, of course, Turkish) and promoted

wherever possible.

The process of establishing this Commission shall start imme-

diately, for numerous facts traceable in the immediate aftermath of

the events, such as interviews, photographic and other substantial evi-

dence available, may get less accessible if not totally lost afterwards.

Should the Government approve this goal, then one of the Mi-

nisters shall be instructed to arrange the Commission in question, and

the allocation of 50,000 rubles shall be temporarily assigned for the

Commission’s operation.

M.Hajinski

, the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Elisavetpol, July 15, 1918

Reference:

The State Archives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, fond

(stack) 1061, opis (dossier) 1, delo (file) 95, list (sheet) 1 (herein-

after SARA, f.,op.,d.,l.)