A.S.Griboyedov: Letter on relocation of Armenians from Persia to our settlements

 A.S.Griboyedov: Letter on relocation of Armenians from Persia to our settlements. Your Excellency would be interested to know exactly on the measures that were taken to re-locate Armenians from Azerbaijan, and on their current re-location in our settlements. This is the whole truth I know about it: Colonel Lazarev considered himself the major initiator of this immigration, about what he quite clearly indicated, but not convincing enough as Armenians didn’t know anything about him, they were only wanted to live under the laws of Russia. This gave them full right. Famous tools during re-location were: Duke Argushinskiy, Gamazov and other subject officers acted already under their influence. Colonel Lazarev was only thinking of making proclamations, especially regarding the formation of regular Armenian group, supposing to include this fact into his plans, with good intentions but not thought carefully and Karabakh and other settlements  having their own governance and where special power from earlier founded couldn’t be allowed. Duke Argutinskiy presented him several times on his behavior and on how it is flattering, light-headed and useless. All the other business of Colonel Lazarev were of the same type and are not worth of being disseminated. It should also be added that he is the person with no idea, but is with good behavior and is not able to hide state money or deliberately harm the state. During the distribution of money to people from Urmiya a number of disorders took place: what wasn’t given to poor was passed to rich. This happened as a result of haste, because this province was left with our troops. Everything was done in a hurry and therefore money didn’t serve for assistance and were wrongly distributed. This is actually the only case known to me. This was done during re-location; and during the re-location process in new places, everything was done thoughtlessly and with big mistakes. For controlling this process a Committee was founded, that controlled nothing and deserves being blames, because from your Excellency had the most exact and detailed guidance, what to do in those cases:

 1. Bigger part of Armenians were re-located on the lands of Muslim landowners. In the summer, it was possible to allow happening. The bigger part of owner, Muslims were moving from one place to another therefore had very few chances to communicate with foreign inhabitants.

 2. No forests, no any other places were prepared for the strong re-location of inhabitants. Everything was missed at that time. To correct the mistake this year was late. Immigrants lived very densely and made the places of Muslims very dense, who complain and with reason. It is known to Your Excellency that generally all the population living here must be considered with immigrants, because they were all re-moved by sardar in the military time and are in a very difficult situation.

 3. Money was distributed with no reason at all: they distributed ruble, two rubles to poor people, with not certain information, how much to those who need and who needs in which amount. 25 rubles paid in one time is ten times important of the same amount if paid in time and for purpose. No general measure was taken, as for example: purchase of bread for maintaining the whole society, and for harvest for next year and etc. Indicating to Your Excellency  on wrong acts of re-location committee, I must fairly indicate, Committee included the people with certain skills which are not there at the moment, even they would find this situation difficult. In settlement board there are no even registration of lands and villages in Trans-Araks; even the number of inhabitants I the suburbs on that side of Araks is also unknown. As to mansions, nobody knows who what belongs to. This is why Committee didn’t have the information , which it had to use. Head of the settlement here says  that most of newly-located Armenians he wanted to locate behind Araks, but they asked Your Excellency a permission to stay in the places they were located initially for some time, for what they got your permission. Sub-Colonel Duke Argutinskiy is not disappointed, nevertheless to bring this measure to execution was possible. This official deserves a full trust of management for the reason that he is honest. 30 thousand rubles in silver and 2 thousand chervonts (old Russian currency) again defined as assistance to immigrants will be already used clearly. If Your Excellency decides to direct in the same amount to allocate for the same subject, you could simplify the well-being of these people. Just imagine yourself the number of those requiring assistance, who in a while will start paying tax to state; compare average price in Russia of the same number of people and the whole amount paid out for these purposes by Your Excellency  will seem very reasonable, even much less than the good it will bring. I don’t know if this matter was presented to you from this point of view and if is going to be approved by you. One more important source of assistance was not significant for state sardar cattle, the number of which was up to 30 thousand heads of animal which was distributed by sardar to inhabitants for living and in return of which they were going to pay tax. In return from those inhabitants he was getting butter, wool and the meat etc. about the existence of the cattle I heard a low and got confirmation from members of settlement board of Petrikov and Mendoks. To continue cattle breeding of sardar in the state is not convenient and in our administration it is simply impossible. To distribute them to soldiers in portions means to spend them with no way back; but distribution of this cattle to immigrants will sensibly fill and change their farming. I tried to find out the reverse through my translator Dadashov, who was extremely skilled for that. I made him to ask people in the villages where I was passing through, in Echmiadzin and here when we asked if there was a misuse during the distribution of money, or if anyone complains, I was precisely told that there was no case like that. Translator of head of settlement Mirza-Tatus, who is a famous forge, but he didn’t have any instructions on this matter; equally his brother, head of Surmalinsk maghala, also a forge, about who I remember just by the way, but he was not involved in re-location process. A lot must be expected from those who are managing location of inhabitants, especially from Duke Argutinskiy; he will definitely not repeat the mistake of predecessor, major Vladimirov.

At the same time we several times had discussions on different ideas to bring to the attention of Muslims, that will reduce their threats about Armenians staying and owning the lands where they were let the first time. The same ideas were given by me to police, members of board and khans who were in my reception. Your Excellency will be right to appoint several officials here by Tbilisi state expedition.

There is simply no one who could do this work, there are no writers, not even translators. I think for this purpose would be good to select several students from Armenian school in Tbilisi. Addressing immigrants, I find out that they are much useful than our Georgian Armenians, generally traders, who bring no use to state and those who were immigrated from Persia are mostly craftsmen and ploughmen. 1828.