Coll 28/29 ‘Persia. Russia. Russian Refugees in Persia.’ [‎11r] (21/411)

Nationalities of refugees—
Russians ...
261
Per Cent.
70-5
Uzbegs
20
54
Tartars
27
7 3
Caucasian tribes (Osetins, Georgians,
&c.) ...
32
8-9
Foreigners (Poles, Germans, Greeks,
Roumanians, Hungarians, &c.) ...
28
7 9
368
100
h regard to military service—
Ex-commanding personnel
14
Per Cent.
3 9
Ex-other ranks
122
33 1
Not served
232
630
368
100
Many of those who had not served were young. The 63 per cent, above noted
includes a majority of individuals of kulak (formerly well-to-do) families, which
are not accepted for military service.
Ages of refugees—
Under 18 years
18-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-60
Per Cent.
3
0 9
31
90
82
22-3
82
22 3
56
152
51
13 9
34
9 2
29
72
368 100
It is characteristic that the ages from 21 to 30 comprise the majority of the
■emigrants who have received an exclusively Soviet education. By their flight
from the country they demonstrate their disillusionment in any possible bright
future for the Soviet regime.
The greater number of refugees cross the frontier in the spring, in March
and April, which is the easiest time to cross and at the same time coincides with
the most critical period of the year with regard to food supplies in Russia. As
an average, the monthly arrivals in Meshed might be taken as 500 Turkomans
and 20 Russians.
From April this year (1934) (Note. —Actually from the beginning of the
vear), on account of strict orders which have been issued (by the Persian
Government), with few exceptions, all refugees crossing the Persian frontier have
been returned to Russia. The exceptions are the families of emigrants who are
already in Persia and foreigners escaping through Persia to their native
countries.
The great numbers attempting to escape into Persia and the percentage that
comes to grief on the frontier are shown by the evidence of certain refugees who
have escaped from the prison at Askhabad. Out of the total number of prisoners
there are not less than 1,000 persons undergoing sentence for attempted crossing
of the frontier, a figure which is maintained the whole year through.
Since after four or five months’ imprisonment for crossing the frontier the
prisoners are liberated or sent to exile, it may be estimated that the number so
incarcerated reaches about 2,000 per year, which, in comparison with the average
annual number reaching Meshed (about 200), shows that 90 per cent, are caught
and 10 ^ef'cehf:~succeed m entering Persia. These figures do not apply to
Turkomans or Kirghiz, who, when arrested crossing the frontier, are not
imprisoned but sent to exile to the north.
When emigrants reach Meshed, i.e., Russians, Armenians, Jews and others,
they are taken over by the police (“ nazmieh ”) of the Province of Khorassan.