The Dualism of the Russian Administration on the Eastern Caspian Coast

Abstract

Over the period of the presence of the Russian Empire in Central there had been examples of the implementation of various governance models, each of which was established in accordance with the tasks that the government intended to undertake on a particular territory. The major problem was usually selected among these tasks which determined not only the facade of any administration model but also its subordination. At the turn of the 1860s — 1870s, two objectives of the occupation of Krasnovodsk were defined in the decisions of the supreme authority: the development of transit trade with khanates and the pacification of Khiva. The priorities for the eastern Caspian coast might have been determined on the basis of foreign policy considerations rather than stemmed from the lack of familiarity with regional conditions. One way or another, the formulated goals predetermined the emergence of dual power in Krasnovodsk, when the issues of security of servicemen, Russian and foreign traders were within the competence of commander of a military detachment, whereas trade promotion, settlements of commercial disputes, certification of various acts, customs operations, data collection and consideration of proposals concerning management, industrial development, and improvement of the legal status of indigenous population pertained to the area of responsibility of the Agent of the Ministry of Finance. Further course of events put everything in its place. The Khivan campaign of 1873 predetermined further existence of the Trans-Caspian region under the aegis of the War Ministry.