In 1919, the Extraordinary Investigative Commission in Baku heard testimony from Aghajan Ibad oghlu, elder of the Padar nomads in Shamakhi. His account detailed the destruction of encampments, mass killings, and the loss of vast herds during the violence of 1918.
But first things first – recently, thanks to friends working in the archive, I have found recordings of my ancestors. The earliest ancestor they found was a certain Amin, about whom nothing is known. His son, Aligulu, was born in 1777 and was 54 at the time of the census.
He had five sons (daughters weren’t recorded back then) in his household:
- Gubad (b. 1805)
- Gurban Ali (b. 1813)
- Mirza Ali (b. 1823)
- Abbas Ali (b. 1824)
- Gasim (b. 1828)
I am descended from his 4th son, Abbas Ali, who later did a pilgrimage and became a Haji. He had four sons:
- Ibad (b. 1845)
- Agamoglan (b. 1859)
- Rza (b. 1864)
- Jahangir (b. 1866)
My great-grandfather Muhammad was Agamoglan’s only son. His only son, Nuraddin, was my grandfather. My father was born to him, alongside many brothers, sisters and half-brothers.
In this article, I will focus on the testimony of Aghajan (1879-1933), son of Ibad. This testimony concerns the summer of 1918, when violence swept through the Muslim encampments of Shamakhi uezd. Among those caught in the turmoil were the Padars — a nomadic community that lived in tents, migrated seasonally with their herds, and relied on livestock as their only wealth. This is the tribe I belong to.
A year later, in 1919, the Azerbaijani Government’s Extraordinary Investigative Commission began to examine what had happened. Witnesses from Padar were summoned to Shamakhi and Baku, questioned about the raids, the killings, and the plunder of their herds. At the centre of this process stood Aghajan Ibad oghlu, the elder (starshina) of the Padar community, who gave detailed testimony about the attacks.
The Extraordinary Investigative Commission of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established on 15 July 1918 to investigate atrocities and property destruction committed against Muslims in the South Caucasus since the outbreak of the First World War. Initially operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and later attached to the Ministry of Justice, it was chaired by Alekber bey Khasmammadov and included judges, prosecutors, and lawyers from different regions, with members drawn from various ethnic and professional backgrounds. From autumn 1918 onwards, the Commission collected large volumes of material, eventually producing 36 volumes comprising around 3,500 pages, covering events in Shamakhi, Guba, Goychay, Javad, Nakhchivan, Karabakh, Zangezur and other areas. Its work relied on witness interrogations, assessments of property losses, and the identification of alleged perpetrators. By 1919, it had prepared 128 reports and draft resolutions recommending criminal prosecution, naming more than 190 individuals. Although some cases reached the courts, the Commission itself ceased operations on 1 November 1919, and with the Soviet takeover, many proceedings were halted under a general amnesty in 1920.
The Padar case first appeared in the records of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission through the reports of its member Aleksandr Novatsky. In Document No. 782, drafted in 1919, he described the events of the summer of 1918 as a raid by Armenian detachments and villagers, recording killings, rapes, and the plunder of more than 60,000 sheep and 3,000 head of cattle. He proposed criminal proceedings against several individuals named as leaders of the attackers. Shortly afterwards, in Document No. 783, the Commission reviewed Novatsky’s submission but judged the evidence insufficient, deciding to keep the question of prosecution open until further proof could be gathered through preliminary investigation.
Document 782
Report by Member of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission Novatsky
to the Chairman of the same Commission
Concerning the case of the armed attack on the Padar encampment of Shamakhi uezd, Baku province, and the violence committed against the inhabitants of this encampment
In the summer of 1918, a detachment of Armenian soldiers together with residents of the Armenian villages of Matrasy, Kelakhany, Kerkench, Gyurdzhevan, Sagiyan and others of Shamakhi uezd, armed with rifles and daggers, unexpectedly attacked the Padar encampment and subjected it to gunfire.
The residents fled, abandoning all their property, which consisted of camels, horses, buffaloes, cows, sheep, and household belongings. The Armenians pursued the fugitives and brutally killed them with bullets, bayonets, and daggers, sparing neither women nor children, killing 25 women, 80 men, and 15 children. At the same time, they seized young and beautiful women and girls and raped them.
After this massacre, the Armenians drove off all the large and small livestock, namely: 3,000 head of large cattle and 66,000 head of small cattle, causing losses to the community amounting to 12 million roubles.
From the testimony of the elder of the Padar community, Agajan Ibad oglu, it appears that the Padar people recognised many among the Armenian attackers, but they knew them only by sight, not by name, and that at the head of the detachment and Armenian bands stood: Stepan Lalayev, resident of the town of Shamakhi Gavriil Karaoglanov, “Uzun” Mikhail, Mikhail Petrosov (doctor), and resident of the village of Matrasy Sandro Agriev.
On the basis of the above, I would propose initiating criminal proceedings against the named Stepan Lalayev, Gavriil Karaoglanov, “Uzun” Mikhail, Mikhail Petrosov, and Sandro Agriev, and others, accusing them of crimes as set out in Articles 13, 129, 927, 1633, 1636, 1453, and 1607 of the Code of Punishments.
Member of the Commission: A. Novatsky (signature).
State Archives of Azerbaijan Republic, f. 1061, op. 1, case 4, p. 6.
Document 783
Resolution
15 July 1919
The Extraordinary Investigative Commission under the Azerbaijani Government, having examined the case of the destruction of Muslim villages of Shamakhi uezd in connection with the report of a Member of the same Commission, Novatsky on the destruction of the village of Padar of that uezd, and taking into consideration:
that, as is evident from the case and the said report, in the destruction of the village of Padar — according to the statement of the elder of that village, Agajan Ibad oglu — among others who participated and were identified by the Padar villagers: resident of Baku Stepan Lalayev, a resident of Shamakhi Gavriil Karaoglanov, “Uzun” Mikhail, Mikhail Petrosov (doctor), and resident of the village of Matrasy Sandrik Asriev;
that, under such circumstances, the guilt of the said persons appears to be insufficiently proven,
Resolved:
The question of bringing the named persons into the case as accused shall remain open until their guilt is established by the conduct of a preliminary investigation.
Chairman of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission: Alek. Khasmamedov (signature).
Members of the Commission: Aleksandrovich, A. Novatsky, Mikhailov, Ch. Klossovsky (signatures).
Note: The conduct of the preliminary investigation in this case is entrusted to a Member of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission N.M. Mikhailov.
24 July 1919, Baku
Chairman of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission: Alek. b. Khasmamedov (signature).
State Archives of the Azerbaijan Republic, f. 1061, op. 1, d. 4, p. 6.
Document 785
My name is Agajan Ibad oglu, elder of the village of Padar, Abdulyan district, 40 years old, Muslim, literate.
We are a nomadic population with no permanent houses; we are engaged in cattle breeding. Armenian soldiers, in the summer of last year, attacked our encampment. In addition to the military, there were Armenians from Shamakhi uezd, including those from the villages of Matrasa, Kolakhany, Kerkenj, Gurjivan, Sagiyan, and others. They broke into the encampment itself and opened fire. All our inhabitants began to flee, abandoning all their property.
In the encampment itself, the Armenians killed 25 women and 95 men and children, killing with bullets, stabbing with bayonets, and cutting with daggers. They seized and raped young women; there was great violence in the encampment. At the same time, they drove off our livestock: we had in total of 66,000 head of sheep, of which only 16,000 survived. The Armenians took away the rest. Many sheep were killed by the Armenians senselessly, and then not even taken.
In addition, the Armenians drove off up to 3,000 head of large cattle — camels, horses, buffaloes, and milch cows. We usually in summer migrate to the mountains, but this year the Armenians did not allow us to reach the pasture, as a result of which many sheep perished; now almost nothing is left for us. We normally live in tents and have no houses.
Many Armenians who attacked us we know by sight, but we do not know their names. At the head of the detachment were seen Lalayev, Karaoglanov, “Uzun” Mikhail, another — Mikhail Petrosov, the doctor. We also recognised Sandro Agriev. We clearly saw them among the attackers and know that these persons commanded the soldiers and the Armenian forces in general. A report of the damages I present.
Signature: Agajan Ibad oglu (in Arabic script).
Present at the interrogation were some residents of the village — Abdulla Khalaf Mamed oglu, Amir Hajji Niftali oglu, who declared that they had read the testimony of the elder and had nothing to add.
Translator: [signature]
Members of the Commission: Mikhailov, Ch. Klossovsky (signatures).
State Archives of the Azerbaijan Republic, f. 1061, op. 1, d. 4, p. 8.
Document 787
From the elder of the Padar Community
14 October 1919
City of Shamakhi
To His Excellency,
The Shamakhi Uezd Chief
In consequence of Your instruction of 14 October 1919, No. 1307,
I have the honour to report to Your Excellency that the eyewitnesses to the pogroms of the Muslim villages in the community under my charge, the Padar encampment, were:
Heydar Bakhish oglu
Dashti Adil oglu
Saftar Gyulbaba oglu
Jannat Jafar oglu
Khan Baba Dunyamali oglu
Elder of the Padar community: Agajan Ibad oglu (signature in Arabic script).
Note: The elder of the Padar community has received the summons for the above-named persons to appear on 17 October 1919 at 9 o’clock in the morning. – Illiterate.
Member of the Commission: Mikhailov (signature).
State Archives of Azerbaijan Republic, f. 1061, op. 1, d. 4, p. 11.
Document 788
Interrogation protocol
16 October 1919
I, Member of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission Mikhailov, interrogated the persons listed below in accordance with Articles 307 and 443 of the Criminal Procedure Statute, and they testified as follows:
1) My name is Dashti Adil oglu, resident of the village of Padar, 50 years old, Muslim, illiterate.
In the winter of 1918, we were with the entire village at pasture with our sheep in Quba uezd. A month after Novruz Bayram, part of our village, numbering 40 households, moved to pasture in our uezd, at Uzunja. At this time, Molokans from the village of Astrakhanka attacked our camp, opened fire, killing 18 of our people and wounding me in the nose. They plundered our property and burned our tents. Part of our villagers at that time were pasturing near the village of Sagir, part near Karasu. I do not know any of the attackers; they were Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks also burned our permanent village, but at that time, almost no one was there, and we saw it already destroyed.
Illiterate.
Member of the Commission: Mikhailov (signature).
Translator: [signature].
2) Jannat Jafar oglu, resident of the village of Padar, 30 years old, Muslim, illiterate.
When we were at the Uzunja pasture, Molokans from the village of Astrakhanka attacked our encampment and opened fire. At that moment, I fled with my companions, and the Molokans fired at us as we ran, killing 18 people from our encampment. I myself was not wounded. The Molokans stole all our property and livestock. I fled and did not see who plundered and drove off the livestock. As for the attack on our permanent village, I do not know and did not see it; the village was empty at that time, as we were all away on pasture. I have nothing further to say.
Illiterate.
Member of the Commission: Mikhailov (signature).
Translator: [signature].
3) Saftar Gulbala oglu, resident of the village of Padar, 35 years old, Muslim, illiterate.
At the Uzunja pasture, after Novruz Bayram, Molokans attacked us, said to be residents of the village of Astrakhanka. They killed 18 of our people. I did not identify or recognise any of the Molokans who attacked. Our permanent village was destroyed at a time when no one was there. I have nothing further to say.
Illiterate.
Member of the Commission: Mikhailov (signature).
4) Heydar Bakhish oglu, resident of the village of Padar, 60 years old, Muslim, illiterate.
Last year, after Novruz Bayram, when we were at the Uzunja pasture, numbering 40 households, at midday, Molokans attacked us, said to be from the village of Astrakhanka. We all fled, abandoning all our property, which the Molokans plundered, and they drove off the livestock and burned the tents. While we were fleeing, the Molokans fired at us, killing 18 people — men and women. I also fled from the camp. I did not identify or recognise any of the Molokans who attacked. We have no permanent village or houses, since both in winter and summer we migrate with our sheep. I have nothing further to say.
Illiterate.
Member of the Commission: Mikhailov (signature).
5) Khan-Baba Dunyamali oglu, resident of the village of Padar, 70 years old, Muslim, illiterate.
During the Molokan attack on our encampment, I fled together with others, but in the crowd of armed Molokans, I managed to notice Vaska and Ivan Maksimich, whose surname I do not know. I know nothing further.
Illiterate.
Member of the Commission: Mikhailov (signature).
State Archives of the Azerbaijan Republic, f. 1061, op. 1, d. 4, pp. 12–13.
Document 789
Resolution
17 October 1919, City of Shamakhi
I, Member of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission Mikhailov, having examined the preliminary investigation into the destruction of the Muslim settlement of Padar, have found:
From the testimony of the witnesses questioned during the investigation, it appears that in fact no permanent settlement of Padar exists, since the inhabitants — the Padar people — are nomadic in both winter and summer. In May 1918 (or in the spring, the exact time not established), Molokans from the village of Astrakhanka attacked a portion of the Padar encampment of 40 tents, killed 18 inhabitants, burned the tents, and plundered the property.
Witnesses Heydar Bakhish oglu, Dashti Adil oglu, Saftar Gulbaba oglu, and Jannat Jafar oglu did not identify any of the Molokans who attacked the encampment, while witnesses Khan Baba Dunyamali oglu and Agajan Ibad oglu testified: the former recognised the Molokans Vaska and Ivan Maksimich, and the latter identified several Armenians. The testimony of witness Agajan Ibad oglu clearly contradicts the testimony of the other five, who confirmed that the attack was carried out by Molokans of Astrakhanka village; and the last two witnesses accuse different persons. Therefore, an accusation and identification made by only one person represents very weak proof for bringing the accused to trial, especially given the discrepancies in the witnesses’ testimony.
In view of the foregoing, I consider that this case should be directed under Article 277 of the Criminal Procedure Statute, in light of the failure to establish the guilty persons who attacked the Padar encampment and the insufficiency of evidence against those accused.
Resolved: To forward this preliminary investigation to the Chairman of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission for disposition.
Member of the Extraordinary Investigative Commission: Mikhailov (signature).
State Archives of the Azerbaijan Republic, f. 1061, op. 1, d. 4, p. 14.
By late October 1919, the Extraordinary Investigative Commission concluded its preliminary inquiry into the Padar case. Contradictory witness statements, divided between accusations against Armenian detachments and Molokan colonists, left the investigation without sufficient grounds to prosecute. The file was forwarded to the Commission’s chairman, but like many other cases from Shamakhi and neighbouring districts, it remained unresolved when the body was dissolved in November 1919. Today, the surviving testimonies of Aghajan Ibad oğlu and his fellow tribesmen stand as one of the few preserved records of the community’s nomadic life and the violence they endured in 1918. Even though the crime was never resolved. According to my grandfather’s account, Aghajan Ibad oghlu later disappeared in 1933 after entering the OGPU building in Baku — an institution that would in succession become the NKVD and then the KGB — and was never heard from again.
My grandfather himself continued the nomadic way of life well into the late 1960s, and my father was the last in the tribe to be born in a tent. Only after that point did the clan finally settle. For me, the most striking aspect of the Padar case is the way the Azerbaijani Extraordinary Investigative Commission handled it. Despite strong political incentives to blame everything on Armenians, given the depth of hostility at the time, the Commission did not do so automatically. Instead, it registered contradictions in testimony, noted the possibility of Molokan involvement, and refused to indict without firmer evidence. A century later, this stands as a reminder that even in the turmoil of the early 20th century, official bodies could sometimes act with a restraint and sense of due process that is rarely acknowledged in our histories.
That is a result of support turkish massacre against Armenians. That is Azer karma. Keep crying.