A territorial and political entity in Turkestan with the capital in Kokand that existed in late 1917 – early 1918.

 

Ideas about the autonomy of Turkestan appeared among representatives of the local intelligentsia (Jadids – Muslim reformers) after the uprising of the indigenous population of the region in 1916 and started to develop quickly after the February Revolution of 1917. In addition to the Jadids, they were supported by representatives of the Muslim organizations Shura-i-Islamia (Council of Islam), Shura-i-Ulema (Council of the Clergy), etc.

 

After the October coup, in response to the establishment of the Council of People’s Commissars of Soviet Turkestan by the Bolsheviks in Tashkent, on November 26, 1917, in Kokand, under the leadership of Shura-i-Islamia, the 4th All-Turkestan Kurultai (Congress) of Muslims was convened. On November 27, it proclaimed the establishment of the Turkestan Autonomy (also known as the Kokand Autonomy). The legislative power in the new state was exercised by the Turkestan Provisional Council elected by the Сongress and the executive power was exercised by the Turkestan Provisional Government headed by Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpaev (on December 12, he was replaced in his post by Mustafa Chokaev). The leadership of the autonomy reached an agreement on joint activities against the Bolsheviks with the Emir of Bukhara, Khan of Khiva, Ataman Aleksander Dutov, and the Alash Party.

 

As an armed force, the Turkestan Autonomy drew the attention of Basmachi detachments under the command of Irgash. On February 18, Irgash, relying on the support of the most conservative part of the clergy and nobility, arrested several ministers of the Turkestan Provisional Government (the chairman of the Government, Chokaev, managed to escape) and declared himself the Khan of Kokand.

 

On February 14, the Turkestan Council of People’s Commissars declared martial law in the Ferghana region. To liquidate the Turkestan Autonomy, the Bolsheviks sent 11 troop trains with soldiers and artillery. The Soviet forces also included Dashnak detachments. The new leadership of the Autonomy and its armed forces sheltered in Kokand. On February 20, the Reds began an assault on the city, during which about 3 thousand civilians were killed. After the capture of Kokand, some of the leaders of the Autonomy were shot, Irgash managed to escape.

 

The liquidation of the Turkestan (Kokand) Autonomy created good conditions for the establishment of Soviet power throughout the whole territory of Turkestan. However, the consequences of the assault on Kokand led to an increase in anti-Soviet sentiment in the region and contributed to the growth of the Basmachi movement.