The bukharan emirate and turkestan under russian rule in the revolutionary era: 1917-1924

3.4. October Revolution Era 
In the years of late 1917 and early 1918, the released prisoners of war from 
Germany and Turkey, who spread inside Russia, were causing problems for Russia. 
In addition Britain constituted a threat for Russia in case of its interventionist 
policies, targeted Russia. On the other side Turkistan was under the containment of 
the armies of Whites and Cossacks under the command of Denikin and Wrangel at 
the north of the Black Sea and under command of Admiral Kolchak in Siberia, 
therefore the Bolsheviks had difficulty installing Soviet power in Central Asia.
196
The British support to the counter revolutionary movements in the Soviet controlled 
Central Asia during 1918 and 1919 was the main threat for the Bolsheviks. The 
reason behind the British interventionist policy in the region was Britain’s fear about 
Turkey and Central Powers’ operating in the Middle East and India after the collapse 
of Tsarist Russia and birth of power vacuum that enabled the penetration of the 
195
Ibid, 144. 
196
Caroe, Olaf, 
Soviet Empire:
The Turks of Central Asia and Stalinism,
(New York: St. Martin’s 
Press, 1967), 96-97. 

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Central Powers to spread. In order to take precautions for this penetration, prominent 
British generals in the region, General L.C. Dusterville
197
and General W. 
Malleson
198
operated throughout Baku and Transcaspian regions. 
199
Britain’s main 
purpose behind the intervention in Russian was preventing the possible advance of 
Turks and Germans in Central Asia. For that reason, Britain backed the anti-Soviet 
government established in Ashkhabad thus aiming to organize a deterrent force 
before German and Turkish expansion towards Persia and India. On the other hand, 
Ashkhabad was more focused on operating against Soviet Turkestan while Britain 
dealt with the penetration on Transcaucasia and the Caspian Sea in order to put a 
barrier before the Central Powers. 
200
Great Britain was active to back the anti-
Bolshevik forces any time against the Bolsheviks in Central Asia. Especially, 
Britain’s interventionist policies and activities gained speed between 1918 and 1919. 
They cut the links of Turkmen lands from Moscow. They organized a Turkmen 
government in Transcaspia in Ashkhabad. In Transcaspia, a government established 
in Ashkhabad by Mensheviks and Social Revolutionists (SRs) was being backed by 
the British in Persia (Meshed) in 1918. But, the puppet government, backed by 
English forces, could not capture Tashkent. Turkistan campaign of Britain backed 
anti-Bolshevik forces failed and Britain could not maintain its support to Mensheviks 
and SRs in Turkmen country because of the conditions of just after the Great War