The Faction; Examination of Events Related to the Formation of an Autonomous Government in Azerbaijan

On December 21 of this year, it marks the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of a government in Azerbaijan, Iran, which lasted just over a year and was quickly dismantled under numerous legal ambiguities and countless accusations; this was what was called the 'National Government of Azerbaijan.' Alongside this distinct political entity, an organization named the 'Kurdistan Republic' also declared its existence in the territory of West Azerbaijan. Both entities are significant milestones in contemporary Iranian history for those interested in political reforms in Iran and the transition to an era of modern and democratic governance. From those who believe that federal governance is a serious option for the future of Iranian democracy to those who see a powerful centralized government as the path to the happiness of all Iranians, from those who complain about what they call discrimination against ethnic groups to those who believe the roots of problems lie in the undemocratic structure of governance, from those who covertly or overtly seek the disintegration of Iran to a group that fiercely defends the territorial integrity of Iran, all refer to the events of seventy years ago in Azerbaijan with a unique narrative, showcasing parts of what happened as historical evidence for their political arguments today and asserting their legitimacy. Seventy years after this event, the organization known as the 'National Government of Azerbaijan' serves as evidence for today's separatists that the idea of Azerbaijan's separation from Iran has a significant historical basis and is an old project that should be pursued to defend the rights of Azerbaijanis. Conversely, opponents of Iran's disintegration consider existing documents about this organization's ties to the Soviet Union and the fate of this organization as evidence that what has been termed the separatism of some Azerbaijanis is an anti-Azerbaijani and anti-Iranian conspiracy linked to foreign countries, and that it not only lacks a basis in reality but the historical truth of what happened and the ordinary people's reaction to this organization after the withdrawal of Soviet military forces from Iran completely contradicts this claim. Thus, the events of 1945 and 1946 are viewed by some as the 'Azerbaijan Crisis' and its end is referred to as the 'salvation of Azerbaijan,' while for others, it sparked what they call a 'national movement.' How can a historical fact create pride for two completely opposing political groups? What exactly happened seventy years ago that both supporters of Iran's disintegration and opponents refer to? What was the role of the Soviet Union in this affair? How did Iran overcome this crisis? And finally, why did the National Government of Azerbaijan and the Kurdistan Republic, known as the Republic of Mahabad, collapse so quickly after the withdrawal of Soviet military forces? The historical series 'Faction,' which will be broadcast every night at the end of the evening magazine from Radio Farda over the next month, is an effort to find answers to each of these questions. Alongside the broadcast of each episode of this program, an online version will also be published daily on the Radio Farda website. In these online versions, you can read the text related to each episode as well as listen to the complete radio version. In this context, the eleventh episode of the 'Faction' program by Keyvan Hosseini discusses the formation of the 'Democratic Faction'; why did some support it? The thirteenth episode addresses the arming of faction supporters and the increase in street protests in Azerbaijan. The fourteenth episode covers Tehran's options and Moscow's dramatic shift in the autumn of 1945.