Administrative-regional historical division of central Asia

Administrative and regional division in Central Asia, nowadays modern and historical development is one of the most interesting and demanded topics in Kazakhstan’s science. These topics induces interest among historians, ethnographers, political scientists, geographers and economists.

Arising interest in administrative-regional division is due to importance in connection with the transformations that have been carried out since the times of the Russian Empire and the Soviet state.

This article considers problems of dividing the territory of Central Asia into administrative and regional units,particulary the Turkestan Territory. From the administrative point of view, the soil of Turkestan was subject to various political administrative divisions. As a result of this policy, the territory of Kazakhstan was divided into governors and regions, counties during tsarist policy, and after the October Revolution the Soviet government for the first time began to determine the region, republic. 

According to some data and research of the pre-Soviet period, the territory of Central Asia was called the Turkistan krai. To occupy that krai was one of the main challenges of the Russian Tsar. It was very convenient for them to rule the people who were separated into several administrative and regional divisions. As a result of such policy, the territories of Central Asian countries and Kazakhstan were divided into governorships and oblasts, uyezds and some others within them. Since that time, the name ‘Turkistan’ politically was used only for those regions which belonged to Turkistan governor-general.

First, the Soviet period researches demonstrated Central Asian countries as the oblasts of the mainland of Asia which border on the USSR, i.e.   an area covering the Caspian sea in the west up to China in the east, and stretching from Iran and Afganistan in the south and to the Aral-Irtysh watershed in the north; secondly, the territories covered by current independent countries such as Uzbekistan, Kara kalpak autonomy, Kirgizstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikstan [1].

Many scholars were really interested in historical-geographical position, border issues and population of  Turkistan  krai. One of them was V.Masalsky.   He   wrote: ‘Turkistan extended from the Caspian Sea in the west to the Chinese frontier in the east, and from Russia in the north to the borders of Persia and Afghanistan in the south. The land occupying 1731 sq. km consisted of Turkistan, Zakaspi, Samarkand, Syrdarya, Fergana, Zhetisy oblasts and two Central Asian khanates Khiya and Bukhara [2, P.131]. Geographical regions that are mentioned in the research show the territories of current Central Asian countries and South East Kazakhstan.

Totally ignoring the interests of the local people, the Tsarist government conducted its own administrative territorial policy in the region. In 1867, Turkistan governor-general was established in the conquered territories. It covered Syrdarya, Zhetisu, Zakaspi, Fergana and Samarkand oblasts. That time the area of Turkistan occupied 1.731.090 sq km (including 238.000 sq km of Bukhara, Khiya khanates) [3, P.343].

Central Asian countries under the Russian empire were subject to three administrative divisions: Turkistan governor-general, Bukhara and Khiya khanates. Administratively, Turkistan governor-general consisted of Zhetisu, Syrdarya, Fergana, Samarkand (Samarkand oblast was formed of  Zarafshan  okrug in 1887) and Zakaspi oblasts. Khiya and Bukhara khanates were under the governor’s control. Syrdarya oblast consisted of Turkistan and Kokhan khanates, while Zhetisu covered the territories of Sergiopol, Kapal, Alatau okrug of Semei oblast and a part of Turkistan.

In 1868, the land taken from Bukhara was handed to Zarafshan okrug, and in 1887, it was reformed as Samarkand oblast [4, P 20]. Emerged from Khiya khanate in 1873, which was located on the left bank of the Amudarya River, Amudarya region became a part of Syrdarya oblast in 1887. Khulzha district, which was subject to the governor-general until 1871-1881, was handed to China. Fergana oblast was formed by the southern part of Kokhan khanate which entirely joined Russia in 1876. In 1882, Zhetisu became a member of the newly-formed Steppe governor-generalship since the then administrative bodies didn’t provide any concrete national administration in the territory of Central Asia. For instance, territorialadministrative regions of present Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kirgizstan equally belonged to Zhetisu    and Syrdarya  oblasts. Moreover, Verny  (Almaty), Tokmak  (Bishkek) and Issyk-Kul (Przhevalsk) were  in Zhetisu oblast while some localities of current Kazakhstan including Tashkent and Khojent uyezds of Uzbekistan belonged to Syrdarya oblast. During the 1870-1905th, the territories and frontiers of some uyezds had frequently changed. However, such changes didn’t influence the ethno-political and cultural life of Turkistan population.

From the administrative point of view, the territory of Turkestan was subject to different political administrative divisions. For example, in the second half of the XIXth century, one part of the territory was subject to Khiya and Bukhara khanates, while the other part was under the control of Kaspi region (Zakaspi) of Turkistan governor-generalship. That oblast formed a part of current Mangystau region and Turkmenistan territory. Zakaspi oblast was established in 1882 and joined Turkistan governor-generalship in 1891. It became a new administrative region of Turkistan. In the second part of the XIXth century, it enlarged its territory with West Turkmenistan, Ahalsk, Atek, Tedzhen, Merv and Pendin oasis [5,P12]. The land, population, lifestyle and culture of the newly-formed administrative regions were constantly changing. The following Table presents the population rate and territory of Turkistan governor-generalship in 1880 [6, P.18]. 

According to data, Syrdarya oblast takes a leading position in population rate and territory, while Fergana prevails in density of population. Moreover, we can see the Kazakhs were greatly populated in Syrdarya ans Zhetisy oblasts.

All oblasts excluding Zakaspi (administaration) were ruled by governors. The authority was exercised by the management hierarchy: oblasts, uyezds, volosts and villages. Under such ruling system, Zhetisu was divided into 6 uyezds: Verny, Zharkent, Khapal, Lepsi, Pishpek and Przhevalsk; Syrdarya had 5 uyezds: Tashkent, Aulieata, Perovsk, Shimkent and Amudarya section; Fergana consisted of 5 uyezds: Skobelov (former Marshan), Andizhan, Khokan, Namangan, Osh and Pamir; Samarkand oblast had Samarkand Zhyzak, Khojent and Khattakorgan uyezds; and Zakaspi oblast consisted of Askhabad, Krasnovodsk, Mangyshlak, Tejen and Merv uyezds [7, 39 fund. 2 list. 20-24 p.]. Each oblast had its own administrative body with a range of commitments and management rights. Such administrative division of Turkistan krai shed light on the main aim of the  Russian  imperialists  who pursued  the policy of splitting the  local people.

Each uyezd was divided into volosts (1000-2000 homes) and villages (100-200 homes). This kind of division was much convenient to take under control and destroy family (ancestral) relations of the Kazakhs. Ancestral separations of the Kazakhs were legally prohibited as it seemed impossible and dangerous to control them in a mass. Sedentary people were ruled by aksakals (old respected people), while nomads were administered by volosts. Compared to sedentary people, the number of the uyezds prevailed in the communities where there were more nomads.

During the 1899-1917 th, big administrative bodies of Turkistan region weren’t confronted with considerable changes. However, the frontier issues hadn’t been touched either by the Tsarist Russia or Soviet government in its first years of formation. Though, in some parts, the border was marked by the pastures and winter camps, there were many people who illegally had passed across it. There are historical facts and documents which show that such violations caused frequent conflicts between the people. Thus, local administrative ruling system of Tsarist Russia, which pursued the policy ‘separate and rule Central Asia’, was not able to define the ethnic territory of the people who lived in Central Asia and Kazakhstan.

Following the October Revolution, the Soviet government first started the designation of rayon (district) in 1920, according to which, Turkistan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Bukhara People’s Soviet Republic and Khorezm People’s Soviet Republic sprang into existence. The localities founded by the Russian tsar remained unchanged; only a new Amudarya oblast that consisted of 2 uyezds including former administrative bodies and several new uyezds (Golodnostep, Turkistan, Naryn and Uratobe and etc.) had been reformed [ 8, P. 24]. In 1923, the department, which was set up by the decision of Bukhara People’s Soviet Republic committee, functioned as a center of the Kazakhs in the region. It was a very important decision because the Kazakhs occupied the most western parts of Kermenin and Nurata including Bukhara and Karshy vilayets [9, P. 64].

On August 7, in 1921, with the decision of the Central Executive Committee of Turkistan ASSR, Council Zakaspi was reformed as Turkmenistan oblast. Chairman of the Commission for Turkmenistan oblast G.I.Karpov offered a new project of reforming Turkmenistan. Until the national delimitation, the territory of the Turkmen was scattered. For instance, 43,2 % of their land was in the territory of Turkistan ASSR, 28,9% lied in Khorezm People’s Republic and other 27,9% was in Bukhara People’s Republic [10,P.25]. Besides, there were some changes regarding the border of Mangyshlak uyezd.

Peculiarities of the physical-geographical position of Turkistan, its economic structure, varied land and cattle-raising issues and its relations with Russia necessitated the economic subdivision of the region. In the earliest years of the Soviet government, former administrative uyezds were reformed as okrugs. According to it, Pishpek okrug covered Pishpek, Karakol, Naryn uyezds of Zhetysu oblast and 12 volosts of Aulieata uyezd of Syrdarya oblast (territory-145700sq km, population-410800), and Amudarya okrug included whole Amudarya oblast (territory-113000 sq km, population-148000) while Turkmen oblast joined Turkmen okrug (territory-353200sq km, population-332400) [11,  P. 32].

Shatkal volost of Namangan uyezd, Shardara volost of Zhyzak uyezd and Tashkent, Myrzashol uyezds entered the re-formed Tashkent okrug (territory-39200 sq.km. population-635900).

On July 4, 1918, the People’s Commissariat of Turkistan Republic issued a decree of forming Golodnosteppe uyezd entailing Iri-zhar, Uralsk, Khojent and Koktobe volost of Zhyzak uyezd. Later, being renamed Myrzashol, it entered Syrdarya oblast [12]. Khokhan okrug (territory-41000 sq km, population-100000) consisted of all Khokhan and Namangan uyezds as well as northern part (7 volosts) of Khojent uyezd of Samarkand. As for Samarkand okrug, it covered 7 volosts of Khojent uyezd, 1 volost of Zhyzak, 1 volost of south Myrzashol and all the rest part of Samarkand oblast [13,34 fund .,2 list, P.12]. Pamir district,having the land of 57000 sq km and 22000 people, consisted of today’s Tajikistan territory [14].

Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajik Autonomous Republic, Kirgiz and Kara-Kalpak Autonomous oblasts were founded as a result of the national demarcation of Central Asia. Kazakh districts within the Turkistan Republic joined the Kazakh Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Thus, the map of all Central Asian countries had been remade. Former Bukhara and Khorezm Republics became part of abovementioned republics and oblasts.

Republic of Uzbekistan covers the territories of Kattakorgan, Khojent and Zhyzak (6 volosts of Zhyzak given to Kazakhstan) uyezds of Samarkand oblast of former Turkistan Republic and Samarkand (excluding 3 volosts given to Tajikistan); Tashkent uyezd (except 10 volosts were handed to Kazakhstan) of Syrdarya oblast and one part of Myrzashol uyezd; uyezds of Fergana and Khokhan (except 2 nomadic volosts); Andizhan (except 7 volosts given to Kirgizstan); Namangan (not including 10 volosts handed to Kirgizstan); Fergana (4 nonvolost); excluding Bulakbashy and Manek volosts of Osh uyezd. Thus, in 1924, the territory of the Uzbek SSR was about 326,8 thousand sq.km (today it is 447,4 sq km); according to the 1926 census, its population was 4 621000 and it reached 14 474000 population in 1977. In 1924, Uzbek SSR consisted of 7 oblasts, 23 uyezds and Tajik ASSR. Today, Uzbekistan has 11 oblasts, 134 districts, 82 cities including Kara-Kalpak Autonomy. Such velayats of Bukhara Republic as Bukhara Kerminin, Nurata, Karshy, Shakhizyab, Guzar, Baisyn and Sary-Asy (except Karatau tuman and Kerif tuman of Sharab) had joined Uzbekistan, as a result of which it gained 570000 communities and 3731146 people. 2583751 of them were Uzbeks, 81862 Kazakhs, 595004Tajiks, 150308 Russians and 229887 of other nationalities [15,P.47]. Kara-Kalpak Autonomous oblast was mainly made up of Shymbay, Khojeli, Shumanay (Yanikala), Konyrat, Khorezm and Shurakhan uyezds of Amudarya oblast. It had a population of 229136 people [16, 1972.,P.48].

Zoning process was in a temp during the national-state delimitation of Central Asia in 1923-1924. With the decision of the Central Executive Committee of Turkistan ASSR, on August 7, 1921, Zakaspi oblast was reformed as Turkmen oblast.

Further, on March 20, 1924, with unanimous decision of Communist Party of Khorezm People’s Socialist Republic (KPSR), Turkmen oblast and its center Tashauyz and Chardzhau oblast of Bukhara People’s Republic were founded in October, 1923. It consisted of Chardzhau and Kerkin velayats. In 1924, Turkmen National Bureau completely demarcated the territories of a future republic, according to which Turkmen SSR was divided into 5 okrugs: Poltoratsk (7 districts), Merv(% districts), Chardzhau (4 districts), Kerki (5 districts) and Tashauz (5 districts).

On 27 October, 1924, Turkmen SSR was established. It covered the areas of Turkmen oblast (Tedjen, Krasnovodsk, Merv and Poltoratsk) of Turkistan ASSR, Tashauz okrug (kone Urgenish, Tash auz, Parsyn and Takhta districts) of Khorezm Republic and Kerki and Chardzhau okrugs (Leninsk, Farabsk, Sayat, Burdalik, Deinau, Khalach, Khadja-Abad, Kyzyl-Ayak, Kerki and Kesher districts) of Bukhara [17,P. 60]. Moreover, it linked Khojaly fortresslocated in the bordering parts of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, western parts of Kipshak such as Mangyt, Klyshniasbay, Yalchanchaktobe, Gurlen, Ambar, Manaka and northern part of Khazovat. Besides, Pitnyukov fortress of Khorezm, Dargon ata, Tuiemoyn of Turkmenistan rayon, and the banks of Amudarya in Sadovar also became a part of the republic. Its population reached 900000 (80,9 % -Tukrmen, 8,6 % -Uzbek and 4,5 % Russian). The foundation of the Turkmen SSR resulted in the union of all Turkmen lands. With the decision of Turkmen SSR Revcom, on December 4, 1924, Turkmen oblast was divided into 2 okrugs (Poltaratsk and Merv), and the rest part into 3 okrugs (Chardzhou, Kerki and Tashauz). Thus, zoning process of the republic came to its final end in the beginning of the 1930th [18, P. 62].

Tajik Autonomy consisted of a part of Korgantobe and Sary Assy velayats, Duysenbi, Kulyabi and Garm velayats of Bukhara Republic, eastern part of Samarkand oblast (Upper Zarafshan rayon), western part of Pamir, Oroshar volost of Sarysu rayon and one part of Vakhon volost. The population was 599714 (65,4 %-Tajik, 32,1 % Uzbek, 2,2 % -Kirgiz) [19, P. 44].

Karakol uyezd, Naryn, a part of Pishpek (7 volosts including Pishpek city), 14 mountainous volosts of Aulieata uyezd of Syrdarya oblast, one part of Andizhan (10 volosts), 9 volosts of Namangan, 4 volosts  of Fergana, 2 volosts of Khokhan, 2 volosts of Osh uyezd and the whole east part of Pamir rayon be-  came part of Kirgiz Autonomous oblast. Its population was about 798770 (505775-Kirgiz, 123133-Uzbek, 14324-Kazakh,135892-Russian and 19646 of other nationalities).

Capital cities of the founded republics were: Uzbekistan –Samarkand, Turkmenistan – Poltaratsk, Kirgizstan – Pishpek, Tajikistan –Dushanbe and Kara-Kalpak– Tortkul. Until 1934, Kara-Kalpak Autonomous oblast was in the part of Kazakhstan.

Akmeshit uyezd of Syrdarya oblast of former Turkistan, 24 volosts of Aulieata uyezd, Kazaly, Irizhar and Slavyan volosts of Myrzashol, a part of Tashkent, Zhausogym, Ushtobe, Altyn, Zhetysu, Sharapkhana, Akhzhar, Ushtamgaly, Alexandr, Koshkorgan and 10 Bolat volosts, Turkistan, Shymkent, Almaty uyezd of Zhetysu, Zharkent, Lepsi, 3 volosts of Pishpek (Georgievsk, Zachui,Karakunuz), Taldykorgan, 6 volosts of Zhyzak uyezd of Samarkand (Kyzylkum, Akkorgan, Fistaltau, Koktobe, Shardara, Korgantobe became part of Kazakhstan.

About 1 485125 citizens of Turkistan ASSR had moved to Kazakhstan. Moreover, out of total 1.745,4000 sq km land subject to delimitation 685, 9000 sq km, which accommodated 1.468.724 people, was handed to Kazakhstan. Tashkazakh uyezd was established within the territory of Kazakhstan including some regions of Tashkent, Myrzashol and Zhyzak uyezds. Initially, its center was in Kokterek, then in Chicherino, and on September 12, 1926, moved to Saryagash. But, on 17 January, 1928, Tashkazakh uyezd broke up, and its volosts formed Syrdarya rayon, Bogarnaya okrug and Keles, Karatas rayons. Irizhar volost belonged to Kyzylkum rayon, while Akzhar volost did to Karatas. Besides, there emerged Kazakh congregated Shyrshyq and Bostandyk rayons [20,P.163].

Thus, countries separated into administrative regions like Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan, Tajikstan, Turkmenstan were called Middle Asian republics. However, since January 1993, following the Tashkent summit of five independent states, they and Kazakhstan politically was renamed into Central Asia.

In conclusion, the national-state demarcation of Central Asian countries during the 1924-1926 th had defined ethnic-territorial administrations. Frequent changes with the borders of the volosts misled the people about their own volosts and village numbers. During the 1920-1924, the northern part of Kirgizstan carried out the process of enlargement of the volosts. This confused the people even more while separating one village from the other as well as the volosts. At that time, the number of volosts reached 500, it was obvious that due to some problems and difficulties their numbers got fallen. It was caused by the famine of the 1917-1918, severe consequences of basmachi, fear of the Soviet government, fleeing the country and other reasons [21, Р. 240].

Characterizing the administrative divisions of Central Asian republics during the Soviet Union, we can make the following conclusion. Like Tsarist government’s succession, administrative and regional divisions in the earliest period of the Soviet government were characterized such as oblasts, uyezds and volosts. Only after the period of 1920, oblasts were divided into okrugs, then into rayons. There wasn’t concrete statistics of those subdivided localities and population; there were no demarked borders between nomadic villages. Absence of borders and scattered population did cause real difficulties in the administrative division issues of the regions. The fact that some populated volosts were forcefully joined (ignoring their economic interests) other volosts showed inadequate system of the administration.

Thus, we can dare say that due to such behavior of incompetent administrative bodies in Central Asian countries, the number of the minorities in the republics got increased and gradually turned into the diaspora.

Referenses

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