The Overthrow of Autocracy and the Establishment of Soviet Power in Kyrgyzstan

The Tsar is Overthrown.

The life of the people did not improve. In early 1917, the news spread among the Kyrgyz ails: “The White Tsar has been overthrown!” Hope flickered among the people: “Now Russia has become a free country, perhaps the Kyrgyz will be given freedom too.” But this did not happen. The Provisional Government of landowners and capitalists that took charge of Russia had no intention of meeting the needs of the people.

In Kyrgyzstan, no changes occurred. After the uprising, the country was in ruins; the Kyrgyz had neither land nor livestock. A mass exodus in search of salvation to China stripped them of their last possessions. The situation of the people was dire.

After the overthrow of the tsarist power, Kyrgyz refugees began to return from China to their homeland. They hoped that the new power would return the lands taken from them and protect their rights, but the Provisional Government, on the contrary, decided not to allow the Kyrgyz to return to their native land. Russian kulaks, who had been waiting for this, ambushed the exhausted, unarmed, and defenseless Kyrgyz returning home and dealt with them. Those fit for work were forced to labor in their households like slaves. Those who refused to comply and dared to resist were falsely accused of “rebellion” and sent to prison.

Thus, the Provisional Government not only did not alleviate the plight of the Kyrgyz but continued the colonial policies of tsarism. In 1917, repressions and persecutions against participants of the uprising intensified.

Creation of New Political Organizations. The people's hopes for improvement quickly dissipated; they began to understand that it was not enough to overthrow the tsar to improve life. Representatives of the advanced, progressive part of the population began to unite into various political organizations. Following the example of Russia, Councils of Workers', Peasants', and Soldiers' Deputies emerged. However, due to widespread illiteracy and the backwardness of the people, the influence of the Councils on them was insignificant.

Representatives of the advanced intelligentsia of the Kyrgyz and Kazakh peoples formed the national-democratic party “Alash,” which defended their national interests. In Kyrgyzstan, the organizations of this party were led by Abdykerim Sydykov, IsheNaly Arabayev, Kasym Tynystanov.

The working class united into various revolutionary-democratic organizations. Thus, the main goal of the union “Bukhara” (“The Poor”) was to protect the interests of the poorest segments of the population. Residents of any nationality could become members of this union. It was led by Kozhomurat Sarykulakov. He was born in 1892 in the Pishpek district. He graduated from the gymnasium in the city of Verny (Almaty) with a silver medal. He studied at the medical faculty of Kyiv University and the law faculty of Kazan University, in cities that were major centers of the workers' revolutionary movement. K. Sarykulakov understood well that changing the life of the people largely depended on the level of consciousness of the oppressed — the peasantry and the working class, their determination to defend their interests to the end, and he made many efforts to improve the life of the Kyrgyz people.

At the same time, organizations of the Bolshevik party began to appear. At large rallies, the Bolsheviks put forward the most pressing, urgent demands: “Freedom to the oppressed people!”, “Land for the people!”, “Down with the Provisional Government!” Therefore, the influence of the Bolshevik party among the masses gradually increased.

Establishment of Soviet Power in Kyrgyzstan. On October 25 (November 7), 1917, the Bolsheviks of Petrograd, led by V.I. Lenin, carried out an armed coup — the October Socialist Revolution. The Provisional Government was overthrown, and the first government of workers and peasants — the Council of People's Commissars — was formed. It was headed by V.I. Lenin. The first decrees adopted by the Soviet power were the decrees on peace and land.

The Decree on Peace called on governments and peoples to stop the war and conclude a peace agreement. According to the Decree on Land, tsarist, landlord, and other landholdings were to be transferred to the ownership of the Soviet power and handed over to the peasants free of charge.

At that time, power in Kyrgyzstan was still in the hands of the bourgeoisie, supporters of the Provisional Government. Only after the victory of the revolution in neighboring Tashkent did the transition of power to the Soviets in Kyrgyzstan accelerate.

First of all, Soviet power was established in the industrial areas of Kyrgyzstan — in the cities of Kyzyl-Kiya and Suluktu, where the predominant part of the population consisted of workers, who were the most conscious, revolutionary-minded class. In December 1917, the new power triumphed in Jalal-Abad, and in January 1918 - in Osh. In Northern Kyrgyzstan, Soviet power first triumphed in Talas, on January 5, 1918 - in Pishpek, and in February - in Tokmok. To protect Soviet power, volunteer Red Guard units were formed. With their help, Soviet power was established in Issyk-Kul and Naryn.

By the middle of 1918, Soviet power had triumphed throughout Kyrgyzstan.

Civil War. The exploiting classes, deprived of power and wealth, tried to destroy Soviet power. Anti-Soviet forces created their army (the White Guard). They were supported by foreign capitalists. To protect Soviet power locally, Red Army units were organized. In 1918, a civil war began in the young Soviet country.

After the White Guards captured the city of Orenburg, Turkestan was cut off from Russia. Here, especially in southern Kyrgyzstan, the Basmachi movement (from Kyrgyz “basmak” - to raid) gained strength. The main driving force behind the Basmachi were former bai, tsarist officials, and Muslim religious figures, i.e., the former ruling elite who did not want to lose their power. The Basmachi detachments also involved downtrodden, deceived, or frightened peasants, influenced by various provocative rumors. The mistakes made by the Bolsheviks in conducting national policy, harsh anti-religious propaganda, and intensified persecution of believers were also reasons that somewhat alienated the peasantry from the Soviets. Counter-revolutionary and religious forces quickly took advantage of this. Hiding behind slogans of protecting Islam, scaring people with the idea that divine retribution would inevitably befall those who “sold out to the infidels” — the Bolsheviks, the clergy, former bai, and manaps pulled the peasantry to their side. The Basmachi received significant support from foreign capitalists who had interests in Turkestan. They supplied the Basmachi with weapons and sent military advisors.

The Basmachi movement gained particularly large scale in southern Kyrgyzstan. It was led by such kurbashis as Kalkozho, Aman Palvan, Madaminbek, Ergash, Kurshirmat, and others. The Basmachi killed representatives and supporters of Soviet power, looted property, stole livestock, burned ails and kishlaks, and shed the blood of innocent people.



Defense of Soviet Power. To protect Soviet power from enemies, Red Army units were created in Kyrgyzstan. Among the first to join the Red Army were Yu. Abdrakhmanov, K. Bayalинов, S. Karalaev, Zh. Sadaev, I. Tokbaev, and others, who later became well-known state and public figures.

In the fire of the civil war, their own military cadres were forged and grew — commanders Ya. Logvinenko, A. Osmonbekov, Zh. Sadaev, M. Masanchin. The units of the Red Army led by them crushed counter-revolutionary uprisings in Verny, in the village of Ak-Suu (Belovodskoye), in Osh, Przhevalsk, and Naryn.

A significant role in defending Soviet power in Turkestan was played by the Turkestan Front, organized in 1919. It was commanded by our fellow countryman M. Frunze, in honor of whom the capital of Kyrgyzstan bore his name from 1926 to 1991.

As a result of the heroic efforts of the Red Army soldiers, the Basmachi movement and all counter-revolutionary forces were defeated. By the end of 1920, the civil war in Kyrgyzstan ended, and Soviet power was finally victorious.