East Azerbaijan Province
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East Azerbaijan Province ( fa, استان آذربایجان شرقی ''Āzarbāijān-e Sharqi''; az-Arab, شرقی آذربایجان اوستانی) is one of the 31
provinces of Iran Iran is subdivided into thirty-one provinces ( fa, استان ''ostân''), each governed from a local centre, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: , '' markaz'') of that province. The provincial authority is h ...
. It is located in
Iranian Azerbaijan Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan ( fa, آذربایجان, ''Āzarbāijān'' ; az-Arab, آذربایجان, ''Āzerbāyjān'' ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq, Turkey, the Nakhchivan ...
, bordering
Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
,
Republic of Azerbaijan A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...
, Ardabil Province, West Azerbaijan Province, and Zanjan Province. The capital of East Azerbaijan is
Tabriz Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
. East Azerbaijan Province is in
Regions In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
3 of Iran, with its secretariat located in its capital city,
Tabriz Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
.


Geography

The province covers an area of approximately 47,830 km², it has a population of around four million people. The province has common borders with the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Autonomous Nakhchivan in the north, West Azerbaijan in the west, Zanjan in the south, and
Ardabil Ardabil (, fa, اردبیل, Ardabīl or ''Ardebīl'') is a city in northwestern Iran, and the capital of Ardabil Province. As of the 2022 census, Ardabil's population was 588,000. The dominant majority in the city are ethnic Iranian Azerbaija ...
in the east. A fine network of roads and railways connects East Azerbaijan to other parts of
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
and neighboring countries. The highest point in East Azerbaijan is the volcanic peak of Sahand Mountain at of elevation, lying south of
Tabriz Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
, whereas the lower-lying areas are around Garmadooz (Ahar). The hills and mountains of the province are divided into three ranges: the Qara Daq Mountains, the Sahand and Bozqoosh Mountains, and the Qaflan Kooh Mountains. The climate of East Azerbaijan is affected by Mediterranean Continental as well as the cold semi-arid climate. Gentle breezes off the
Caspian Sea The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia ...
have some influence on the climate of the low-lying areas. Temperatures run up to 8.9 °C in Tabriz, and 20 °C in Maraqeh, in the winter dropping to −10–−15 °C at least (depending on how cold the overall year is). The ideal seasons to visit this province are in the spring and summer months.


History

East Azerbaijan is one of the most archaic territories in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. During the reign of Alexander of Macedon in Iran (331 BCE), a warrior known as Attorpat led a revolt in this area, then a territory of the
Medes The Medes (Old Persian: ; Akkadian: , ; Ancient Greek: ; Latin: ) were an ancient Iranian people who spoke the Median language and who inhabited an area known as Media between western and northern Iran. Around the 11th century BC, the ...
, and thereafter it was called ''Attorpatkan''. Since then this vicinity has been known as ''Azarabadegan'', ''Azarbadgan'' and ''Azarbayjan''. Islamic researchers proclaim that the birth of the prophet
Zoroaster Zoroaster,; fa, زرتشت, Zartosht, label= Modern Persian; ku, زەردەشت, Zerdeşt also known as Zarathustra,, . Also known as Zarathushtra Spitama, or Ashu Zarathushtra is regarded as the spiritual founder of Zoroastrianism. He is ...
was in this area, in the vicinity of Lake Orumieh (''Chichesht''), Konzak City. Needless to say, this province was subject to numerous political and economical upheavals, attracting the interest of foreigners. The Russians in particular have tried to exert a lasting influence in the region over the past 300 years, occupying the area on numerous occasions. The
constitutionalist Constitutionalism is "a compound of ideas, attitudes, and patterns of behavior elaborating the principle that the authority of government derives from and is limited by a body of fundamental law". Political organizations are constitutional ...
movement of Iran began here in the late 19th century. Ethnic tensions in Azerbaijan can
legally Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. It has been vario ...
trace their origins back to the colonialist policies of
Imperial Russia The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...
and later the
Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
. In a cable sent on 6 July 1945 by the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union,  – TsK KPSS was the executive leadership of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, acting between sessions of Congress. According to party statutes, the committee direct ...
, the local Soviet commander in Russian (northern) held Azerbaijan was instructed as such: In 1945, the
Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
helped set up the
Azerbaijan People's Government The Azerbaijan People's Government ( az, آذربایجان میللی حکومتی - Azərbaycan Milli Hökuməti; fa, حکومت خودمختار آذربایجان) was a short-lived unrecognized secessionist state in northern Iran from Nov ...
in what is now East Azerbaijan.


Administrative divisions

At the 1986 census there were twelve counties in East Azerbaijan Province. By the 1996 census two additional counties had been formed, Jolfa from part of
Marand Marand ( fa, مرند; ; also Romanized as Morand) is a city and capital of Marand County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Marand is among major cities in the province. It is located in the north-west of capital of the province Tabriz. Marand ha ...
, and Malekan from part of
Bonab Bonab ( az, Binab, fa, بناب; also Romanized as Bonāb and Benāb; also known as Bināb, Bunab, Binov, and Binev) is a city and capital of Bonab County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Bonab is 120 km south of Tabriz (the capital of East Azer ...
. Between 1996 and 2002, five new counties were formed: Ajabshir,
Azarshahr Azarshahr ( fa, آذرشهر; also Romanized as Āz̄arshahr, Âzaršahr, Azərşəhr, or Āz̄ar Shahr; also known as Tufarqan (Persian: توفارقان), also Romanized as Dehkhvāreqān) is a city and capital of Azarshahr County, East Azerba ...
, Charoimaq,
Osku Osku ( fa, اسكو, az, Üçqaya - اوشقایا also Romanized as Oskū; also known as Uzku and Yuzki) is a city and capital of Osku County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Osku is one of the oldest cities in East Azerbaijan and is obtained a ...
, and
Varzaqan Varzaqan ( fa, ورزقان; also Romanized as Varzeqān and Warzagan; formerly, Karzigan (Persian: كَرزيگَن), also Romanized as Kārzigān and Karzygan) is a city in the Central District of Varzaqan County, East Azerbaijan provinc ...
. In 2010 Kalibar was split in half with the northern part becoming Khoda Afarin, while the southern part kept the name Kalibar.


Counties at the 1986 census


Counties as of 2012

Osku County Osku County ( fa, شهرستان اسکو) is located in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Osku. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 84,061, in 23,613 households. Retrieved 3 November 2022 The following cen ...
, -
Malekan County Malekan County ( fa, شهرستان ملکان) is located in East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Malekan Malekan (Romanized as Malekān; formerly, Malik Kandi (ترکی آذربایجانی: مَلِك كَندی ...
, -
Azarshahr County Azarshahr County ( fa, شهرستان آذرشهر) is located in East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province, Iran. The capital of the county is Azarshahr. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 99,286, in 26,857 households. Retr ...
, -


Culture

From a cultural point of view, the most outstanding features are the language, Azerbaijani, and folklore of this region. The language of Azerbaijan is originally "a branch of the Iranian languages known as Azari" (''see
Ancient Azari language Old Azeri (also spelled Adhari, Azeri or Azari) is the extinct Iranian language that was once spoken in the northwestern Iranian historic region of Azerbaijan (Iranian Azerbaijan) before the Turkification of the region. Some linguists believe th ...
''). However, the modern Azeri language is a Turkic language very closely related to the language of
Republic of Azerbaijan A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...
and Turkey. Apart from this, the province also boasts numerous learned scholars, gnostics, several national poets such as ''Mowlana Baba Mazeed'', ''Khajeh Abdol Raheem Aj Abadi'', ''Sheikh Hassan Bolqari'', and ''Abdolqader Nakhjavani'', to name a few, and the contemporary poet ''Ostad Mohammad Hossein Shahriyar''. The current
leader Leadership, both as a research area and as a practical skill, encompasses the ability of an individual, group or organization to "lead", influence or guide other individuals, teams, or entire organizations. The word "leadership" often gets vi ...
of Iran,
Ali Khamenei Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei ( fa, سید علی حسینی خامنه‌ای, ; born 19 April 1939) is a Twelver Shia ''marja and the second and current Supreme Leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the third president o ...
, also originally comes from this region.
Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization ( fa, وزارت میراث فرهنگی، گردشگری و صنایع دستی ایران, ''Vâzart-e Miras-e Ferhengi-ye, Gârdâshigâri-ye vâ Sânai'-ye Dâsti-ye Iran'') is ...
has registered 936 sites of historical significance in the province. Some are contemporary, and some are from the antiquity of ancient Persia. "
Zahak Zahhāk or Zahāk () ( fa, ضحّاک), also known as Zahhak the Snake Shoulder ( fa, ضحاک ماردوش, Zahhāk-e Mārdoush), is an evil figure in Persian mythology, evident in ancient Persian folklore as Azhi Dahāka ( fa, اژی دهاک) ...
Citadel", for example, is the name of an ancient ruin in East Azerbaijan, which according to various experts, was inhabited from the second millennium BC until the Timurid era. First excavated in the 1800s by British archeologists,
Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization ( fa, وزارت میراث فرهنگی، گردشگری و صنایع دستی ایران, ''Vâzart-e Miras-e Ferhengi-ye, Gârdâshigâri-ye vâ Sânai'-ye Dâsti-ye Iran'') is ...
has been studying the structure in 6 phase

East Azerbaijan enjoys a rich compendium of Azeri traditions. Many local dances and folk songs continue to survive among the various peoples of the province. As a longstanding province of
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, Azerbaijan is mentioned favorably on many occasions in
Persian literature Persian literature ( fa, ادبیات فارسی, Adabiyâte fârsi, ) comprises oral compositions and written texts in the Persian language and is one of the world's oldest literatures. It spans over two-and-a-half millennia. Its sources h ...
by Iran's greatest authors and poets.


Notable people

*
Qatran Tabrizi Qatran Tabrizi ( fa, قطران تبریزی; 1009–1014 – after 1088) was a Persian writer, who is considered to have been one of the leading poets in 11th-century Iran. A native of the northwestern region of Azarbaijan, he spent all of his ...
, poet *
Ahmad Kasravi Ahmad Hokmabadi Tabrizi ( fa, سید احمد حکم‌آبادی تبریزی, Ahmad-e Hokmabadi-ye Tabrizi; 29 September 1890 – 11 March 1946), later known as Ahmad Kasravi ( fa, احمد کسروی, Ahmad-e Kasravi), was a pre-eminent Irani ...
, historian *
Samad Behrangi Samad Behrangi ( fa, صمد بهرنگی; June 24, 1939 – August 31, 1968) was an Iranian teacher, social activist and critic, folklorist, translator, and short story writer of Azerbaijani descent. He is famous for his children's books, particu ...
* Sattar Khan, revolutionary leader *
Bagher Khan Bagher Khān ( fa, باقرخان; 1870 – November 1916) honorarily titled Sālār-e Melli ( "National Chieftain") or Baqir Khān, was one of the key figures in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution. Biography Early life Bagher Khan was born i ...
, revolutionary leader * Gayk Bzhishkyan *
Kazem Sadegh-Zadeh Kazem Sadegh-Zadeh (; fa, کاظم صادق‌زاده; born 23 April 1942) is a German analytic philosopher of medicine of Iranian descent. He was the first ever professor of philosophy of medicine at a German university and has made significa ...
*
Parvin E'tesami Parvin E'tesami (1907 – April 5, 1941) also known as Rakhshandeh Etesami ( fa, رخشنده اعتصامی), and Parvin Etesami ( fa, پروین اعتصامی), was an Iranian 20th-century Persian poet. Life Parvin E'tesami was born in 1907 ...
, poet *
Ali Daei Ali Daei ( fa, ; born 21 March 1969) is an Iranian football manager and former player. A striker, he was the captain of the Iranian national team between 2000 and 2006 and played in the German Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich ...
, Iranian soccer player *
Karim Bagheri Karim Bagheri ( fa, ; born 20 February 1974) is an Iranian professional football coach and former player. He played over half of his professional career for Persepolis in the Persian Gulf Pro League. He is an assistant coach for Persepolis and t ...
, soccer star *
Iraj Mirza Prince Iraj Mirza ( fa, ایرج میرزا, literally ''Prince Iraj''; October 1874 – 14 March 1926) (titled Jalāl-ol-Mamālek, fa, جلال‌الممالک), son of prince Gholam-Hossein Mirza, was a famous Iranian poet. He was a modern p ...
, poet and politician * Maqsud Ali Tabrizi * Ivan Galamian *
Hassan Roshdieh Haji Mirza Hassan Tabrizi (میرزا حسن تبریزی; July 4, 1851, Tabriz – December 12, 1944, Qom), famously known as Hassan Roshdieh (حسن رشدیه), was an Iranian cleric, teacher, politician, and journalist. He introduced some mod ...
*
Shams Tabrizi Shams-i Tabrīzī ( fa, شمس تبریزی) or Shams al-Din Mohammad (1185–1248) was a Persian * * * * Shafi'ite poet, who is credited as the spiritual instructor of Mewlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhi, also known as Rumi and is ref ...
, mystic * Vartan Gregorian, President of
Carnegie Corporation The Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philanthropic fund established by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to support education programs across the United States, and later the world. Carnegie Corporation has endowed or otherwise helped to establis ...
*
Ali Salimi Ali Salimi ( fa, علي سليمي, az, Əli Səlimi; 1922 in Baku – 22 April 1997 in Tabriz) was an Iranian Azerbaijani musician, composer and tar player. He had been based in Tehran for the last few decades where he made significant contribu ...
*
Ali Soheili Ali Soheili ( fa, علی سهیلی; 1896 – 1 May 1958) was a Prime Minister of Iran. Born in Tabriz, he served as Prime Minister in 1942, and Ambassador to Britain in 1953. He has studied at Saint Louis school in Tehran. The Tehran Confe ...
,
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
of
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
*
Ebrahim Hakimi Ebrahim Hakimi ( fa, ابراهیم حکیمی; 1869 – 19 October 1959) was an Iranian statesman who served as Prime Minister of Iran on three occasions. Early life and education Born in Tabriz in 1869, Ḥakimi was part of "an old and promin ...
,
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
of
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
*
Mahmud Jam Mahmoud Modir al-Molk Djam ( fa, محمود جم; 1880 – 10 August 1969) was a prime minister of Iran from 1935 to 1939. Early life Djam was born in Tabriz in around 1880. Career Djam learned French from a Frenchman in Tabriz and began to wor ...
,
Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
of
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
* Mohammad Hossein Shahriar *
Asadi Tusi Abu Nasr Ali ibn Ahmad Asadi Tusi ( fa, ابونصر علی بن احمد اسدی طوسی; – 1073) was a Persian poet, linguist and author. He was born at the beginning of the 11th century in Tus, Iran, in the province of Khorasan, and died i ...
is buried here


East Azerbaijan today

East Azerbaijan province is an industrial centre of
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. East Azerbaijan province has over 5000 manufacturing units (6% percent of national total). The value of product from these units in 1997 was US$374 million (373 billion rials = 4.07% of the national total). Total investments were valued at US$2.7 billion (2.4513 trillion rials) in 1997.According to the information released by the office of the provincial governor. Some of the major industries in East Azerbaijan are glass industries, paper manufacturing, steel, copper and nepheline syenite, oil refinery, petrochemical processing facilities, chemical products, pharmaceutical processing, foundries, vehicle and auto-parts industries, industrial machines, agricultural machines, food industries, leather, and shoe industries. East Azerbaijan has an excellent position in the handicraft industry of Iran, which has a large share in the exports of the province. Tabriz carpets are widely known around the world and in international markets for their vibrant designs and colors. At present there are about 66,000 carpet production units in the province, employing some 200,000 people. The annual production of these carpets is roughly 792,000 m², which comprises more than 70% of Iran's carpet exports. 35% of all Iranian carpets are produced in East Azerbaijan. East Azerbaijan province is also one of the richest regions of Iran in natural minerals, with 180 mines in 1997, of which 121 units are currently in operation, and the rest are being planned.
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
has two Biosphere reserves in East Azerbaijan province. One in
Lake Urmia Lake Urmia; az, اۇرمۇ گؤلۆ, script=Arab, italic=no, Urmu gölü; ku, گۆلائوو رمیەیێ, Gola Ûrmiyeyê; hy, Ուրմիա լիճ, Urmia lich; arc, ܝܡܬܐ ܕܐܘܪܡܝܐ is an endorheic salt lake in Iran. The lake is l ...
and the other at
Arasbaran Arasbaran ( fa, ارسباران ''Arasbârân'') or shortened to Arasbar ( fa, ارسبار ''Arasbâr''), meaning "The Banks of the Aras/Araxes river," also known as "Qaradagh" or "Karadagh" ( az, Qaradağ / , meaning ...
.


Colleges and universities

East Azerbaijan also has some of Iran's prestigious universities including: * Sahand University of Technology

*
Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TUOMS) ( Persian: دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تبریز, ''Danushgah-e 'lum-e Pezeshki-ye Tebriz'') is public medical sciences university located in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran. It is ran ...
* University of Tabriz

* Azerbaijan University of Tarbiat Moallem
Tabriz Islamic Arts University
* University of Maragheh * Engineering and Technical College of Bonab

* Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Mianeh * Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Marand * Payameh noor University of Tabriz * Payameh noor University of Maragheh * Payameh noor University of Bonab * Payameh noor University of Marand * Payameh noor University of Mianeh * Payameh noor University of Shabestar * Payameh noor University of Azarshahr * Payameh noor University of Oskou * Payameh noor University of Ahar * Payameh noor University of hashtrood * Payameh noor University of Malekan
Islamic Azad University of Bonab

Islamic Azad University of Tabriz

Islamic Azad University of Shabestar

Islamic Azad University of Maragheh

Islamic Azad University of Miyaneh
* Islamic Azad University of Ahar * Islamic Azad University of Malekan * Islamic Azad University of Hashtrood * Islamic Azad University of Azarshahr * Islamic Azad University of Marand * University College of Seraj, Tabriz * University College of Rabe Rashidi, Tabriz
University College of Nabi Akram , Tabriz
* University College of Daneshvaran, Tabriz * University College of Seraj, Tabriz


See also

*
Aras Free Zone Aras Free Trade - Industrial Zone (abbreviated as AFZ) is located in the Northwest of Iran at the border point with neighboring Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. According to the Decree ''No. 20708/T/530820'', dated 28 ...
* List of East Azarbaijan cities and towns by population


References


External links


Official website

Cultural Heritage Organization of East Azerbaijan

The Union for Handwoven Carpets of East Azerbaijan



Arasbaran UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

Lake Urmia UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

East Azerbaijan Research Park net portal


entries in th
Encyclopædia Iranica
* Bahram Moshiri's brief talk on Azerbaijan

{{DEFAULTSORT:East Azerbaijan Province East Azerbaijan Province,