Kyrgyz Diaspora in the Territory of Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz in Kazakhstan.
Small groups of ethnic Kyrgyz have found themselves in various parts of present-day Kazakhstan since the 17th century for various reasons. Information about this is available not only in genealogical traditions (Smailulu, 2007) but also in written sources.
During an ethnographic expedition in 2005 led by Professor S. Azhigali, while collecting materials on the folk history of the genealogy of the large Kazakh tribal union of the Junior Zhuz (Kiuii zhuz) Alimuly (Elgmuly), a compact settlement of alim-Kyrgyz was noted in the Shalkhar district of the Aktobe region. Local Kazakhs refer to the Kyrgyz as incoming tribal subdivisions, collectively known as "kirme." The Kyrgyz were also part of other Kazakh tribes, particularly the Taz clan (Beknazarov, 2011. P. 169-172).
Some information about the inclusion of Kyrgyz into Kazakh tribes in Eastern Kazakhstan is provided by N. A. Abramov.
In his notes "The Ayagus River and Its Surroundings" in the "Tobolsk Provincial Gazette" (1861. No. 35) and "The Karatal River and Its Surroundings" in the "Notes of the Russian Geographical Society on General Geography" (Vol. 1. 1867. P. 271), he shows "in the composition of the Jan-chuly-semis of the former Sergiopol district, a subdivision of the Estemes clan of the Kyrgyz, consisting of 147 yurts, which had wintering grounds on the Ayagus and summer pastures in the Achikatau mountains" (Aristov, 2001. P. 192).
In the "name list" compiled at the Ust-Kamenogorsk fortress in 1757, the Yenisei Kyrgyz, subjects of the Zaysan Koshko Gurban Khojin, are described. Another document mentions the acceptance of a group of refugees from the "Burutskiy volost under the administration of Zaysan Keidushki," led by his son Ashirmat, numbering 200 people (38 families). A. Levshin reported on a Kyrgyz clan known as the Jony or Yany Kyrgyz, which was among the Kazakhs of the Middle Zhuz. According to Ch.Ch. Valikhanov, they formed two volosts named Yana and Bai Kyrgyz (Saparaliyev, 1995. P. 69, 71).
There is information about the abduction of Kyrgyz by Khan of the Middle Zhuz Abilay Sultan from the northern part of Kyrgyzstan, numbering nine, or according to other data, seven families, as a result of an agreement with the Kyrgyz biya Karaboto, led by his son. They were taken as hostages (amanat) in 1765 (Makhaeva, 2007. P. 84; She also, 2009. P. 19).
The Kyrgyz, representing both the Tian Shan and Yenisei, were later assimilated by local Kazakhs, leading to a change in their ethnic self-identification, language, and culture. Nevertheless, they know that their ancestors were once Kyrgyz, but now consider themselves Kazakhs.
Kyrgyz Diaspora in Tajikistan
