Exile of Last Khan of Khorezm, Sayyid Abdullah Qungrat: A Reflection of Soviet Authority's Policies

This study examines the history of the exile of Sayyid Abdullah Qungrat, the last Khan of Khorezm, within the context of Soviet authority's policies aimed at suppressing the titled elite during the early 1920s. It is demonstrated that during this period, the repressions against the Khan and the male members of his family unfolded in three distinct phases across various regions, involving different forms of punishment, including imprisonment in concentration camps. These events reflect the evolving nature of Soviet state policy and legal norms. Primary sources include documents from the State Archive of the Khorezm Region (Uzbekistan) and the State Archive of Tyumen Region in Tobolsk (Russia). The research methodology is grounded in P. Sztompka's multilinear model of modernization and employs comparative-historical and comparative-legal methods. The authors conclude that in Khorezm during the early 1920s, the policies of Soviet authority and the application of revolutionary law concerning Sayyid Abdullah Qungrat and his family were influenced by Muslim-traditional perceptions, while the implementation of these norms in Russia was contingent upon a complex interplay of factors, including the worldview and personal characteristics of the personnel involved. It has been established that the execution of the decision to exile the Khan of Khiva, made by the Khorezm Extraordinary Commission, was characterized by chaotic and inconsistent practices, with repressive measures fluctuating in accordance with the phases of reform within the state security apparatus of Soviet Russia.