Moscow Treaty of Friendship and Fraternity (1921)

The Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, sharing the principles of the brotherhood of nations and the right of peoples to self-determination, noting their solidarity in the struggle against imperialism and the fact that every difficulty created for either people worsens the position of the other, and wholly inspired by the wish to establish lasting cordial relations and an inseparable sincere friendship founded on the mutual interests of both parties, have decided to conclude a treaty of friendship and brotherhood and have appointed as their plenipotentiaries: the Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, Georgy Vasilyevich Chicherin, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs and member of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, and Jilal Eddin Korkmasov, member of that Committee; and the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Yusuf Kemal Bey, People's Commissar for the National Economy of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and deputy for Kastamoni in that Assembly; Dr Riza Nur Bey, People's Commissar for Education of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and deputy for Sinop in that Assembly; and Ali Fuad Pasha, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and its member for Angora. Having exchanged their powers, found to be in proper and lawful form, they have agreed as follows:

Each contracting party agrees not to recognise any peace treaty or other international act which the other contracting party is compelled by force to accept. The Government of the RSFSR agrees not to recognise any international acts concerning Turkey which are not recognised by Turkey's national government, presently represented by its Grand National Assembly. In this treaty, Turkey means the territories included in the Turkish National Pact of 28 January 1336 (1920), drawn up and proclaimed by the Ottoman Chamber of Deputies in Constantinople and communicated to the press and all powers. Turkey's north-eastern boundary is defined by the line beginning at the village of Sarp on the Black Sea, passing through Mount Khedis Mta and along the watershed of Mount Shavshet–Mount Kanni Dagh, then following the northern administrative boundary of the sanjaks of Ardahan and Kars and the thalwegs of the Arpa Chai and Araxes rivers to the mouth of Lower Kara Su. A detailed description of the boundary and related questions is set out in Annex 1(A) and (B) and in the attached map signed by both contracting parties.

Turkey agrees to cede to Georgia suzerainty over the port and town of Batum and the territory north of the boundary indicated in Article 1 of this treaty which formed part of the Batum district, on condition that: 1) the population of the localities specified in this article shall enjoy extensive local administrative autonomy guaranteeing each community its cultural and religious rights, and shall be allowed to establish a land law corresponding to its wishes; 2) Turkey shall be granted free transit through Batum port for all goods sent to or from Turkey, free of customs duties, without any delays or charges of any kind, together with the right to use Batum port without special charges.

Both contracting parties agree that the Nakhichevan region, within the boundaries specified in Annex 1(C) to this treaty, forms an autonomous territory under the protection of Azerbaijan, on condition that Azerbaijan shall not transfer that protectorate to any third state. In the triangular zone of Nakhichevan territory enclosed between the thalweg of the Araxes and the line Mount Dagna (3829)–Veli Dagh (4121)–Bagarzik (6587)–Kemurlu Dagh (6930), the boundary of that territory, beginning at Kemurlu Dagh (6930), passing through Mount Sarai Bulak (8071) and Ararat station and ending at the junction of Kara Su and the Araxes, shall be adjusted by a commission composed of delegates of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Both contracting parties, noting the connection between the national liberation movement of the peoples of the East and the struggle of Russia's working people for a new social order, solemnly recognise those peoples' right to freedom and independence and likewise their right to choose a form of government corresponding to their wishes.

To ensure that the Straits are open and freely passable for the trade of all peoples, both contracting parties agree to refer the final formulation of the international statute of the Black Sea and Straits to a special conference of delegates from the coastal countries, on condition that its decisions shall not impair Turkey's full sovereignty or the security of Turkey and its capital Constantinople.

Both contracting parties acknowledge that all treaties hitherto concluded between the two countries do not correspond to their mutual interests. They therefore agree to regard these treaties as annulled and without force. The Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic declares in particular that it considers Turkey free of all monetary or other obligations towards it based on international acts previously concluded between Turkey and the Tsarist government.

The Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, considering the capitulations regime incompatible with the free national development of every country and the full exercise of its sovereign rights, regards as without force and annulled all acts and rights having any connection with that regime.

Both contracting parties agree not to permit the formation or presence in their territory of organisations or groups claiming to act as the government of the other party or of part of its territory, or the presence of groups whose purpose is to struggle against the other state. Russia and Turkey assume the same obligation with regard to the Soviet Republics of the Caucasus, on condition of reciprocity. It is established that the Turkish territory mentioned in this article means the territory under the direct military and civil administration of the Government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

To ensure uninterrupted relations between the two countries, the contracting parties undertake, by joint agreement, to adopt all necessary measures to preserve and develop as rapidly as possible railway, telegraph and other communications, and to ensure the free movement of people and goods between the two countries without delays of any kind. It is nevertheless recognised that movement, entry and departure, both of travellers and of goods, shall be fully subject to the rules established in each country on those matters.

Citizens of either contracting party in the territory of the other shall enjoy all rights and bear all obligations arising from the laws of the country where they are situated, except obligations relating to national defence, from which they shall be exempt. Matters of family law, inheritance law and the legal capacity of citizens of both parties are also excepted from this article and shall be settled by a special agreement.

Both contracting parties agree to apply the most-favoured-nation principle to citizens of either contracting party residing in the territory of the other. This article does not apply to the rights of citizens of Soviet republics allied to Russia or to the rights of citizens of Muslim countries allied to Turkey.

Every inhabitant of territories which formed part of Russia before 1918 and which the Government of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic now recognises as under Turkish sovereignty pursuant to this treaty has the right freely to leave Turkey and take their belongings and property or their value. The same right extends to inhabitants of the territory of Batum, suzerainty over which Turkey cedes to Georgia by this treaty.

Russia undertakes, at its own expense, to return to Turkey, as far as its north-eastern boundary, all Turkish prisoners of war and civilian prisoners in Russia within three months for European Russia and the Caucasus and six months for Asiatic Russia, reckoned from the signature of this treaty. Turkey assumes the same obligation towards Russian prisoners of war and civilian prisoners still in Turkey. The details of this repatriation shall be established by a special convention to be drawn up immediately after signature of this treaty.

Both contracting parties agree shortly to conclude a consular convention and agreements regulating all economic, financial and other questions necessary for establishing between the two countries the friendly relations specified in the introduction to this treaty.

Russia undertakes to take the necessary steps with the Transcaucasian Republics to secure their recognition, in the treaties they conclude with Turkey, of the articles of this treaty directly concerning them.

This treaty is subject to ratification. Ratifications shall be exchanged at Kars as soon as possible. This treaty shall enter into force upon the exchange of ratifications, with the exception of Article 13. In witness whereof the aforementioned plenipotentiaries have signed this treaty and authenticated it with their seals. Drawn up in two copies at Moscow on 16 March 1921 (one thousand three hundred and thirty-seven). Georgy Chicherin. Yusuf Kemal. Jilal Korkmasov. Dr Riza Nur. Ali Fuad.

Turkey's north-eastern boundary is established as follows, according to the Russian General Staff map at a scale of 1:210,000—5 versts to the inch. The village of Sarp on the Black Sea—Mount Kara Shalvar (5014); crosses the Chorokh north of Maradidi village; passes north of Sabur village—Mount Khedis Mta (7052)—Mount Kva Kibe, Kavtareti village—the watershed of Mount Medzibna—Mount Gerat Kessun (6468); then follows the watershed of Mount Korda (7910), passes along the western part of the Shavshet ridge to the former administrative boundary of the former Artvin district, follows the Shavshet ridge to Mount Sari Chai (Kara Issal) (8478)—Kviral pass; thence reaches the former administrative boundary of the former Ardahan district at Mount Kanni Dagh; thence, turning north, reaches Mount Tlil (Grmani) (8357) and, following the former Ardahan boundary, reaches the River Poskhov Chai north-east of Badella village; follows that river south to a point north of Chanchakh village; leaves the river there and follows the watershed to Mount Airilyan Bashi (8512); passes over Mounts Kelle Tapa (8,463) and Karman Tapa (9,709), reaches Mount Kasris Seri (9681) and follows the River Karzamet Chai to the Kura; thence follows the Kura's thalweg to a point east of Kartanakev village, where it leaves the Kura, following the watershed of Mount Kara Ogly (7259); thence bisects Lake Khazapin and reaches elevation 7580, then Mount Gek Dagh (9152); follows Mounts Uch Tapalar (9783)—Taya Kala (9716)—summit 9065, where it leaves the former boundary of the Ardahan district and passes over the mountains B. Akh Baba (9973)—8828 (8827)—7602; passing east of Ibish village, reaches elevation 7518 and then Mount Kizil Dash (7439) (7490)—Novy Kizil Dash (Kizil Dash) village; passing west of Karamemed, reaches the River Jamushbu Chai, situated east of the villages of Delaver, B. Kmly and Tikhnis; through the villages of Vartanly and Bash Shuragel, follows the aforesaid river to the Arpa Chai north of Kalali; thence continually follows the Arpa Chai's thalweg to the Araxes and follows the Araxes' thalweg to the confluence of Lower Kara Su. NB: The boundary follows the watersheds of the foregoing heights. Georgy Chicherin. Yusuf Kemal. Jilal Korkmasov. Dr Riza Nur. Ali Fuad.

Considering that, as specified in Annex 1(A), the boundary line follows the thalwegs of the Arpa Chai and Araxes, the Government of the Grand National Assembly undertakes to move the line of blockhouses to a distance of 8 versts from the Alexandropol–Erivan railway in its present alignment in the Arpa Chai region, and 4 versts from that railway in the Araxes region. The lines delimiting these areas are set out below: the Arpa Chai zone in points A and B of paragraph I, and the Araxes zone in paragraph II. I. Arpa Chai zone. A) South-east of Vartanly, east of Uzun Kilissa, through Mount Bozyar (5096), 5082—5047, east of Karmir Vank Uch Tapa (5578), east of Araz Oglu, east of Ani, reaches the Arpa Chai west of Yenikey. B) Leaves the Arpa Chai east of elevation 5019, goes directly to elevation 5481—4½ versts east of Kyzyl Kula, two versts east of Bojaly, then the River Digor Chai; follows this river to Duz Kechug village, goes directly north of the ruins of Karabag and reaches the Arpa Chai. II. Araxes zone. A straight line between Kharaba Alijan and Suleiman (Diza) village. In the zones bounded on one side by the Alexandropol–Erivan railway and on the other by lines 8 and 4 versts from that railway, the Government of the Grand National Assembly undertakes not to construct fortifications of any kind (these distance lines are outside the aforementioned zones) or to maintain regular troops there. It nevertheless retains the right to have in those zones the troops necessary to maintain order and security and for administrative purposes. Georgy Chicherin. Yusuf Kemal. Jilal Korkmasov. Dr Riza Nur. Ali Fuad.

Territory of Nakhichevan. Ararat station—Mount Sarai Bulak (8071)—Kemurlu Dagh (6839), (6930)—Saiyat Dagh (7868)—Kurt Kulag (Kyurt Kulag) village—Gamessur Dagh (8160)—elevation 8022—Kuki Dagh (10282) and the eastern administrative boundary of the former Nakhichevan district. (Seal) Georgy Chicherin. (Seal) Yusuf Kemal. (Seal) Jilal Korkmasov. (Seal) Dr Riza Nur. (Seal) Ali Fuad.