Turkestan
| Turkestan | |
|---|---|
| Islamic Republic of Turkestan | |
| File:Flag of Turkestan.png | |
| Established | 1924 (independence from Russia) |
The Republic of Turkestan is a nation in Central Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and west, Serindia to the east, and Afghanistan, Persia, and Tadjikistan to the south. The nation was formerly part of Russia until it declared its independence in 1924. It was founded on Orkhonist (Pan-Turkic) principles, uniting the Turkic peoples of Central Asia under one nation.
History
Origins
The idea for a united republic of Turkic peoples in Central Asia rose to prominence in the late 1910s. The popularity of the idea was fueled by the Ottoman Empire, whose government promoted Orkhonism, an ideology pushing for Turkic Unity. Throughout the late 1910s to 1920s, the Ottoman Empire supplied the Central Asian Orkhonist rebels with weapons and supplies to rebel against the Russian Empire. Eventually, the Orkhonist leaders of Central Asia declared the independent Republic of Turkestan in 1924.
Consolidation of Power
Russian control in Central Asia only weakened during the Russian Civil War (1925-1928). During the civil war, the Turkestan fought against the two powers vying for power over Russia: the Nationalist-Republicans (also known as "Vosstanists") and the Liberals. When the Nationalist-Republicans won the Russian civil war in 1928, the Nationalist-Republicans continued to fight against Turkestan, who they deemed as a threat to Russia's security. After 3 years of fighting, a ceasefire had been established in 1927.
Over the course of 1927-1930, several Orkhonist Central Asian delegates met with the Russian Nationalist-Republic government to discuss peace. However, negotiations were very slow-paced and often times stalled. Orkhonist leaders used this peace to their advantage. They shifted their military attention to fighting the Khanate of Khiva and the Emirate of Bokhara. Khiva was defeated in 1927, and Bokhara in 1929.
In July 1930, the Central Asian leaders accused the Russians of intentionally stalling negotiations, and fighting between Turkestan and Russia continued. In 1932, the Russo-Corean War broke out in East Asia, which turned the battle in Central Asia to Turkistan's favor. Due to the Russians being pre-occupied with the west, the Orkhonist army was able to capture a large portion of Central Asia.
Independence
In
