Soviet Russia’s Foreign Affairs with Turkey in 1923 Reports of Ambassador Surits

The history of Turkey–Soviet Russia relations is one of the most controversial topics in Turkish historiography. The controversy was largely a product of the Cold War interpretations when the USSR and Turkey were in hostile camps. This article shows the Bolsheviks’ reappraisal and readjustment of their policy towards Turkey during the transition of Turkey from a war of independence to the foundation of a New Turkey in conditions of peace. In doing so, the paper focuses specifically on Ambassador Surits’ detailed reports on Turkey in 1923, including his policy recommendations. In this way the article attempts to contribute to our conception of the essence of Soviet–Turkey relations by taking into account Ambassador Surits’ reports as the primary sources. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group