Tatars of Kostanai Region in the Context of Political Transformation and Big Terror (1917–1930)

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2024-3/320-329

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the Kostanay’s region Tatars within the context of a shift in the political paradigm. In pre-revolutionary times, almost the entire territory of the modern Kostanay region was incorporated into the Turgai region of the Russian Empire. The Tatars began to intensively populate this region starting from the second half of the 19th century, settling primarily in the cities of Kustanay (now Kostanay), Turgai (now Torgay) and in the village of Semiozernoye (now Auliekol). They were mainly engaged in trade, agriculture, religious activities and education. Tatar merchants and clergy played an important role in the life of their diaspora. They ensured the functioning and development of national educational and religious institutions. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the civil war on the Tatar community in the region. It was found that as a result of the change of power, almost the entire previous national elite and some representatives of the new one were eliminated or forced to leave the region. The article is based on archival materials (including the personal files of those who were repressed), memoirs of descendants, periodicals and legal documents from that period.