Russian Embassy in Ankara shares 1938 Pravda issue reporting Atatürk's death

The Russian Embassy in Ankara shared the November 11, 1938, issue of Pravda for November 10, recalling how Atatürk's death was received in the Soviet Union. The page features condolence telegrams from Kalinin, Molotov and Litvinov.

The Russian Embassy in Ankara shared a post on its social media account for November 10, Atatürk Memorial Day, recalling how the death of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, was received in the Soviet Union. The embassy shared the page published under the headline "The Death of Kemal Atatürk" in the November 11, 1938, issue of the Soviet newspaper Pravda.

The Pravda page features condolence telegrams sent to Türkiye by Soviet leaders. In a message to Abdülhalik Renda, president of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, Mikhail Kalinin, chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, wrote: "I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of Kemal Atatürk, the distinguished president of the friendly Republic and a figure who symbolized an era in the heroic struggle of the great Turkish people for independence and prosperity. Please accept my most sincere condolences."

Vyacheslav Molotov, chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union, conveyed his condolences to Prime Minister Celal Bayar.

Litvinov: An inspiration for Soviet-Turkish friendship

Maxim Litvinov, the Soviet Union's people's commissar for foreign affairs, also said in his message: "I was profoundly affected by the news of the death of Kemal Atatürk, one of the most distinguished statesmen who tirelessly fought for Türkiye's independence and the cause of general peace and who was an inspiration for Soviet-Turkish friendship. I wish to offer my deepest and most heartfelt condolences." The same page of the newspaper also announced that Litvinov had visited Türkiye's ambassador to Moscow to convey his condolences.

Image: Russian Embassy in Ankara / Pravda archive

Russian Embassy in Ankara shares 1938 Pravda issue reporting Atatürk's death