Years
of activity
1917–1920
Leaders
Boboahun (Muhammad) Salimov
Polvonniyoz Hoji Yusupov
Jumaniyaz Sultanmuradov
The Young Khivans were a sociopolitical movement acting in the Khanate of Khiva (self-named “Khorezm”), which arose in 1905 based on Jadidism, the movement of Muslims for the renewal of Islamic culture and society (Arabic “jadid” – new). Initially, the members’ activities were mainly in the field of culture and education. The movement was led by Kazi-Kalyan (Chief Judge) and Sheikh-al-Islam (the highest official on Islamic issues) of the Khanate of Khiva Boboahun (Muhammad) Salimov.
After the February Revolution of 1917, the Young Khivans made political demands and on April 5, the Khan of Khiva Isfandiyar Khan approved the publication of a manifesto on the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. Boboahun Salimov was elected Chairman of the Mejlis (Parliament) of the Khanate. Soon Isfandiyar Khan with the support of the Provisional Government restored the absolute monarchy. Some of the Young Khivans were arrested and shot, while the other part fled to Turkestan, where they became close to the Bolsheviks.
After the military coup and the establishment of the dictatorship of the Turkmen-Yomud tribal leader Junaid Khan in Khiva in January 1918, the Young Khivans led the resistance to his power. In May 1918, the Central Revolutionary Committee of the Young Khivans (Chaired by Polvonniyoz Hoji Yusupov) was established in Tashkent. In March 1919, Yusupov turned to the Council of People’s Commissars of the Russian SFSR with a request to recognize it as a revolutionary party and to provide support in the fight against Junaid Khan. The Communist Party of Turkestan and the Bukhara Communist Party also assisted the Young Khivans in this struggle.