The book is a publication of the works of Shahimardan M. Ibragimov, a Russian official and diplomat of the second half of the 19th century, written during the period of his service in Turkestan in the 1870s. The publications include two archival materials kept at the Archives of the Orientalists of the Institute of Oriental Manuscript, RAS. The materials – Travel Sketches: “A Tourist's Notes” and the Diary of the reception of the Khoqand Khan's son in Tashkent in January-February of 1872 – have not yet been put into scientific circulation. Their publication is accompanied by the articles published in newspapers and magazines of the time which are difficult to find today.
Shahimardan M. Ibragimov's works are devoted to history, historical geography and ethnography of the Turkestan Region as well as to the relations of the Russian Empire (in particular, the Governor-Generalship of Turkestan) with the Khanates of Khoqand and Khiva during the era of the Russian protectorate. The texts contain valuable information on special settlements of Turkestan, religious and everyday traditions of aboriginal people of Turkestan and Khoqand Khanate, special features of building the relations between Russian and Khoqand authorities.
Being a high-ranking official in the Turkestan administration responsible for international relations, Ibragimov was very familiar with key figures of the region. Such persons as Governor-General of Turkestan Konstantin von Kaufmann and some of his subordinates as well as Khudoyar, Khan of Khoqand, his heir Nasreddin Beg, and their court officials have been paid significant attention in Ibragimov's works.
Ibragimov's ethnic and religious affiliation also contributed to the value of his works. Being a Turk and a Muslim he could attract more credence from the representatives of the local people than his colleagues of the Russian origin. At the same time, he also paid more attention to some details that his Russian contemporaries might have overlooked. The works of Ibragimov are the source of great value for the history of the Russian imperial policy in Central Asia, primarily its religious and diplomatic aspects.
In the book, the publication of these works is accompanied by commentaries and research carried out by the authors of the project. It aims to emphasize the importance of Ibragimov's written heritage for the study of different aspects in history, historical geography and ethnography of Central Asia and specific features of relations of the Russian Empire with the states and peoples of the region.
Kozintсev, Mark А., Pochekaev, Roman Yu. Russia in Central Asia of the early 1870s through the eyes of a contemporary. Works of Shahimardan Ibragimov / M. A. Kozintcev, R. Yu. Pochekaev; HSE University. – Moscow: HSE Publishing House, 2025. – 288 pp. – 500 copies. – ISBN 978-5-7598-4335-1 (pbk.). – ISBN 978-5-7598-4415-0 (e-book).
The book presents a collection of works of a Russian official, researcher and diplomat Shahimardan M. Ibragimov (1841–1891), written during the period of his service in Turkestan in the 1870s. Being a broad-minded person, Sh.M. Ibragimov successfully combined his office with scholarly researches, and his works are of great interest being a source on the history of Russian imperial policy in Central Asia during the second half of the 19th century. Ibragimov's works belong to different genres including travel notes written during author's trips, diary devoted to the visit of the Khoqand Khan's son in Tashkent, articles with the analysis of relations between Russia (and Turkestan Region in particular) with the khanates of Khoqand and Khiva in the 1870s when the Russian protectorate was established over them.
Some works included into the collection had been published in the Russian periodicals of the 1870s while “A Tourist's Notes” and “Diary” are introduced into the scientific circulation for the first time. Ibragimov's writings are published in accordance with modern Russian spelling and punctuation and supplied with compilers' commentaries and research articles which accentuate his works' value as a source on the history of Central Asia during the period in question.
The book may be useful for historians and orientologists as well as for historians of law and political scientists. It also could be used as an additional material for students who are studying these fields.