The Policy of the Russian Empire on the Resettlement of the Population in the Zhetysu Region of Turkestan and its Colonial Character

The article examines the resettlement of Cossacks from Siberia and the Urals to the border areas of Zhetysu and the Issyk-Kul basin together with Russian troops during military operations in Turkestan. It was proposed to create Russian settlements on the conquered lands, but the priority was to place only the Cossacks of the Siberian or Orenburg troops. As a result, before the formation of the Turkestan General Government in 1867, the majority of the settlers were Cossacks, which led to the formation of the Zhetysu Cossack army. The article also notes the strategic, economic and social interests of Russian tsarism, which prompted the widespread settlement of the Russian and East Slavic population in the Turkestan region. This served as a support for Russian troops and the colonial administration, and also ensured that the region’s wealth was sent to the metropolis and the suppression of uprisings of indigenous peoples. The authors of the article examine the negative attitude of some governors general to the idea of building Cossack villages along the border of the region.