Turkestan Autonomy
Turkestan Autonomy Turkiston Muxtoriyati (Uzbek) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1917–1918 | |||||||||
Flag | |||||||||
| Anthem: Hymn of the Turkestan Autonomy | |||||||||
Alash Autonomy in cyan, Transcaspian Government in green and Turquestan Autonomy in blue. | |||||||||
| Status | Unrecognized autonomy of Russia | ||||||||
| Capital | Kokand | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
| Demonym | Turkestani | ||||||||
| Government | Parliamentary republic | ||||||||
| Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1917–1918 | Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpaev | ||||||||
• 1918 | Mustafa Shokay | ||||||||
| Legislature | Turkestan People's Assembly | ||||||||
| Historical era | Russian Civil War | ||||||||
• Proclaimed | 27 November 1917 | ||||||||
• Government overthrown | 18 February 1918 | ||||||||
• Kokand falls | 22 February 1918 | ||||||||
| Currency | Imperial rubles | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan | ||||||||
The Turkestan Autonomy or Kokand Autonomy was a short-lived polity in Central Asia that existed from November 27, 1917, to February 22, 1918. The Autonomy was based in the city of Kokand, and claimed to be the legitimate government of Russian Turkestan, serving as an autonomous government under the Russian Democratic Federative Republic.
The Turkestan Autonomy was founded on November 27, 1917, after the European-led Tashkent Soviet expelled the Russian Provisional Government from the region. The Soviet did not allow Muslims to serve in leadership roles, sparking opposition from the Turkestani intelligentsia and population who broadly sought national autonomy. The government enjoyed support from a majority of the population, successfully holding rallies across the regions in the thousands during which funds were collected, but lacked the ability to effectively govern the region. It was unable to tax the population, establish a military capable of defending the country, or form regional alliances. Despite the Autonomy's claims of authority, the Tashkent Soviet also exercised its power over the region, effectively creating a dual power structure. In February, the Autonomy and allied forces seized Soviet buildings in Kokand, which the Soviet government responded to with force. Negotiations between the Soviet and Autonomy caused a rift in the government between the cabinet and anti-Soviet hardliners, the latter of whom staged a coup against the government and refused to compromise with the Soviet. The Soviet then shelled and invaded the city, causing the Autonomy's disorganized defense to quickly collapse. On February 22, 1918, a delegation from the city officially surrendered to the Soviet.
The Autonomy was led by a provisional government, who were to serve until a constituent assembly was held to determine the final political form of the region. It functioned as a parliamentary republic, where the 12 member Turkestan Provisional Council was subservient to the 52 member Turkestan People's Assembly. The government apportioned seats in the Assembly according to national representation, with a significant percentage of seats in both bodies going to ethnic Russians.