Emigration from the USSR to Iran in the early 1930s: reasons and social composition

The purpose of the research. The article analyzes migration processes in the Russian-Iranian borderland in the late 1920s — early 1930s associated with the emigration of Soviet citizens to Iran. During this period, a sharp increase in forced emigration from the republics of Soviet Transcaucasia and Central Asia to Iran is noted. Based on materials from British archives published in the Qatar Digital Library, as well as published Soviet documents, the multi-layered nature of the emigration process is demonstrated. The work presents statistical data collected by British diplomats on the number of refugees and their social and national composition. Results. Based on the analysis of reports of employees of British diplomatic institutions, it was concluded that, firstly, emigration affected different social groups: peasants, nomads, city dwellers. Secondly, there was no single reason that united all groups that caused emigration. The article highlights both socio-economic reasons, namely the transformation of the structure of the Soviet economy and society as a result of industrialization and collectivization, and political reasons, related to the rejection of Soviet reality. Migrations were also related to the nomadic way of life, for example, of the Turkmen. Thirdly, the situation of emigrants depended heavily on the region of migration: in the northwest of Iran, the conditions of stay were better than in the northeast.