“GEGHARD”
SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL
FOUNDATION
2025
2025
2024-11-11
The city of Astara, which is pronounced Ostoro in the native Talysh language, is in the southeastern part of Azerbaijan, on the left bank of the Astara River (Astarachay), which flows into the Caspian Sea. The state border between Azerbaijan and Iran extends along the river. The Astara railway station is located 3 km from the city, while the other city of Astara, located in Iran, is on the right bank of the river.
In 1813, after the Russo-Persian War, the region was divided between Qajar Iran and the Russian Empire by the Treaty of Gulistan. Part of the border ran along the Astara River, dividing the settlement into two parts. The part of the settlement located to the north of the Astara River passed to the Russian Empire. Later, it passed to the Soviet Union, and in 1991, it became part of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
One of the earliest mentions of the name Astara, in the form of Astārāb (meaning "water basin"), appears in the 10th century Persian geographical work Ḥodūd al-ʿālam ("The Boundaries of the World"), written by an unknown author. In the 14th century, Astara became the center of the Talish Ispahbads (military commanders) of Gilan, with their residence at the Shindan fortress, the ruins of which still bear witness to the city's Talish history. During the 16th to 18th centuries, the Talish khans of Astara were either autonomous or subject to the rulers of Gilan or Ardabil.
After the border delimitation of 1813, Astara became an important trade hub between the Russian Empire and the northern provinces of Iran. Following the establishment of the Soviet state, the development of the two parts of the city followed different paths.
The Talysh people of Iranian origin make up the majority of the population in the city located within Azerbaijan's territory, although today, the imposition of the Turkish language has pushed Talysh language and identity into decline. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, with the intensification of connections between the Azerbaijani and Iranian parts of the city, Talysh local traditions, which had been distorted or forgotten in Azerbaijan, were somewhat revitalized under the influence of the Talysh in Iran. However, the policy of Turkification by the Baku regime has significantly affected the Talysh identity of the city. In general, the Talysh living in Azerbaijan have attempted to create mechanisms for social adaptation to preserve the Talysh language and national traditions, which partially succeeded in the mountainous regions.
One of the indicators of Azerbaijan's "assimilation policy" is the unsuccessful attempts to find Oghuz roots for the Talysh people through history falsification.
The discriminatory policy towards the Talysh of Astara fully fits the logic of the Azerbaijani authorities' broader policy of assimilating ethnic minorities and eradicating their national culture.