Until the mid-19th century, the Kyrgyz people were under the rule of the Kokand Khanate. The Kokand khans encouraged inter-tribal strife among Kyrgyz feudal lords to weaken the Kyrgyz in political and military terms; Qing China sought recognition of its supremacy over Kyrgyz lands; military raids and threats from neighboring Kazakh and Uzbek feudal lords—all these circumstances forced the Kyrgyz to look towards Russia. Russian capitalism aimed to seize new markets and sources of cheap raw materials for its developing industry.
The following historical events played a significant role in accelerating the Kyrgyz acceptance of Russian citizenship:
1) The worsening situation of the Kyrgyz people under the yoke of the Kokand khans and, as a consequence, their armed resistance against the oppression of the Kokand Khanate.
2) The war initiated by Kazakh Sultan Kenensary Kasymov from the Middle Zhuz against the Kyrgyz people in 1847, which was part of a chain of events aimed at restoring khan power in Kazakhstan and subordinating the Kazakhs of the Senior Zhuz and the Kyrgyz of Northern Kyrgyzstan to his authority.
3) The acceptance of Russian citizenship by the Kazakhs, which positively influenced the Kyrgyz's choice of their further historical path of development.
4) Inter-tribal conflicts among Kyrgyz feudal lords, especially between the Sarybagysh and Bughu tribes.
5) The Kyrgyz's desire to survive in the challenging conditions of the second half of the 19th century.
In the spring of 1785, Atake-biy sent Abdurakhman Kuchakov and Shergazy to Russia as ambassadors.
