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

Islam and the Russian Empire Reform and Revolution in 
Central Asia
, (London: I.B.Tauris-Co Ltd, 1966), 154-155. 
211
Carrere D’Encausse, Hèlene, trans.,
Islam and the Russian Empire Reform and Revolution in 
Central Asia
, (London: I.B.Tauris-Co Ltd, 1966), 158. 
212
Carrere D’Encausse, Hèlene, trans., 
Islam and the Russian Empire Reform and Revolution in 
Central Asia
, (London: I.B.Tauris-Co Ltd, 1966), 154. 
213
Becker, Seymour, 
Russia’s Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924
, 
(London &New York: Routledge Curzon, 2005), 215. 
214
Ibid, 215. 

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82 
victory and obtaining its independence, Amanullah Khan began to give importance 
to the Emirate of Bukhara because of its position as a buffer state between 
Afghanistan and Soviet Turkestan. Bukhara’s membership to a league of Central 
Asian Moslem States under the leadership of Amanullah Khan was also another 
factor behind his interest to Bukhara.
215
Amanullah had some dreams about being a 
prominent leader of Muslim nations under the British colonial rule. Since he ended 
the British imperialism upon his country after a victory, he saw himself as the 
protector of Muslim nations suppressed under the British rule.
216
On the other side, 
the reports about Afghan military experts in Bukharan army for a possible war 
against Russia were sent to Tashkent. So, Frunze informed Lenin about increasing 
threat about a possible attack of Bukhara and Afghanistan upon Soviet Turkistan.
217
Frunze gave the order of an attack on Bukhara on September 1, 1920. The Young 
Bukharans led by Fayzallah Khodzhaev still attempted to persuade the Red Army for 
another solution instead of direct military intervention and kicking the Emir out. 
They openly avoided a great extended uprising of the population. But, Frunze was 
decisive to start the operation. On 2 September, the Red army forces invaded 
Bukhara. Jadids also attended the Red army units and entered Bukhara together.
218
General Frunze informed Lenin with a report that:
 
“The fortress of old Bukhara was 
taken today following a powerful attack by Red and Bukharan units. Tyranny and 
coercion have been vanquished; the red flag of revolution is floating over the 
Rigistan.” 
219
Also, Izvestiya rote the historical event; “The revolution in Bukhara 
215
Becker, Seymour, 
Russia’s Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924
, 
(London &New York: Routledge Curzon, 2005), 226. 
216
Andican, Ahad, 
Cedidizm’den Bagimsizliga Haricte TURKISTAN MUCADELESI
,(Istanbul:Emre 
Yayinlari, 2003),177. 
217
Becker, Seymour, 
Russia’s Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924
, 
(London &New York: Routledge Curzon, 2005), 226. 
218
Carrere D’Encausse, Hèlene, trans.,
Islam and the Russian Empire Reform and Revolution in 
Central Asia
, (London: I.B.Tauris-Co Ltd, 1966), 164. 
219
Ibid, 164-165. 

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83 
has triumphed. The two capitals, centers at once strategic and commercial, are in the 
hands of Bukharan red troops and Muslim regiments of the Red Army. Because of 
Bukhara’s religious character, this revolution will have a considerable importance for 
the whole of Central Asia”.
220
On 31 August 1920, Emir Alim Khan firstly fled to 
Dushanbe in eastern Bukhara, present day Tajikistan and then had to leave for 
Afghanistan that he did never return to his country again; and then settled in Kabul. 
After that time, he directed his opposition movement upon Bukhara in this country. 
On October 8, the new regime was declared with the new name of the state, the 
Bukharan Peoples’ Republic.