«Kazakh Question» in Russia’s Relations with the Central Asian States in the First Half of the 19th Century

УДК 94:327"18" ББК 63.3(5)63-6

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the role of the Kazakhs of the Siberian and Orenburg governorates in Russia's relations with the Central Asian states in the first half of the 19^th century. At this time, the Russian Empire was pursuing an active policy to protect its trade, economic and political interests in Central Asia. The Empire actively develops caravan trade through the Kazakh steppes. In turn, the Central Asian rulers tried to use the Kazakhs, who accepted Russian citizenship but retained independent governance, as a bulwark against Russia. They tried to prevent Russian merchants from entering the Central Asian markets and monopolize the caravan trade in their hands in order to gain competitive advantages. The Central Asian rulers are destabilizing the situation in the Orenburg and Siberian governorates, luring Kazakhs to their side, forcing them to rob Russian caravans and capture prisoners. At the same time, Central Asia became an arena of rivalry between the great powers — Russia and Great Britain. To ensure its interests, Russia is carried out political and administrative reforms in the Kazakh Steppe. In particular, a centralized government subordinate to the Russian administration is being introduced, and Kazakhs are provided with civil rights. The creation of a peaceful and favorable environment for the development of the economy and trade in the Kazakh Steppe was in the interests of the empire.