Turkmanchai, Treaty of 1828

Turkmanchai, Treaty of (1828) 

a treaty between Russia and Persia ending the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28. The treaty was concluded in the village of Turkmanchai, near Tabriz, on Feb. 10 (22), 1828. It was signed for Russia by I. F. Paskevich and for Persia by Abbas-Mirza. A. S. Griboedov took part in the negotiations.

According to the terms of the treaty, Russia received the Eastern Armenian khanates of Yerevan and Nakhichevan, the Persian government pledged not to interfere with the resettlement of Armenians in Russia, and Persia was required to pay reparations of 20 million rubles in silver. Russia’s exclusive right to maintain a naval fleet in the Caspian Sea was affirmed. The two states exchanged missions at the envoy level, and the Russian government recognized Abbas-Mirza as the successor to the Persian throne. A trade agreement was concluded at the same time as the peace treaty, giving Russian merchants the right to trade freely throughout Persia.

The treaty strengthened the Russian position in Transcaucasia, increased Russian influence in the Middle East, and undermined the British position in Persia. The Treaty of Turkmanchai had a particularly great effect on the Armenian people, since part of Armenia was incorporated into Russia.

REFERENCES

Iuzefovich, T. P. Dogovory Rossii s Vostokom politicheskie i torgovye. St. Petersburg, 1869.
Fadeev, A. V. Rossiia i Kavkazpervoi treti XIX v. Moscow, 1960.
Shostakovich, S. V. Diplomaticheskaia deiatel’nost’ A. S. Griboedova. Moscow, 1960.

S. V. SHOSTAKOVICH