Middle Asian Bureau of the Central Committee of the Acp Bolshevik

a regional body authorized to represent the Central Committee of the ACP(B) in Middle Asia. The bureau existed from May 19,1922, to Oct. 2,1934.

Formed from the Turkestan Bureau of the Central Committee of the RCP (Bolshevik), the Middle Asian Bureau operated on the basis of the Statute on Regional Bureaus adopted by the Central Committee of the RCP(B) in 1921. The bureau gave practical assistance in strengthening the region’s party organizations ideologically and organizationally, in restoring the economy of the Middle Asian republics, and in bringing the republics closer together politically and economically. It prepared the way for the national-state demarcation of the Soviet republics of Middle Asia and for the reorganization of the Communist parties of the republics. The leaders of the Communist parties of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and of the Kara-Kirghiz and Tadzhik regional party organizations joined forces to crush the Basmachi Revolt and strengthen the agencies of Soviet power in Middle Asia. Under the bureau’s leadership, land and water reforms (in practice, the nationalization of land and water), industrialization, collectivization, and cultural reforms were carried out in Middle Asia. The bureau also dealt with such issues as the emancipation and education of women, encouraging their participation in public life.

The bureau played a major role in the founding of higher educational institutions in Middle Asia, in organizing the training of local party cadres and the intelligentsia, in eliminating illiteracy, and in developing the periodical press and radio broadcasting. In 1933 the Sredazpartizdat publishing house was established under the direct supervision of the bureau. Its main publications were the newspaper Pravda Vostoka (1924–34) and the magazines Za partiiu (1927–30) and Partrabotnik (1929–34).

At various times the bureau’s membership included K. S. Ata-baev, Iu. Akhunbabaev, K. Ia. Bauman, I. M. Vareikis, N. F. Gikalo, S. I. Gusev, P. E. Dybenko, I. A. Zelenskii, A. I. Ikra-mov, I. I. Mezhlauk, A. R. Rakhimbaev, Ia. E. Rudzutak, T. R. Ryskulov, D. Saadaev, Kh. M. Sakhatmuradov, B. A. Semenov, N. T. Tiuriakulov, F. Khodzhaev, and Sh. Shotemor. After accomplishing its mission of strengthening the governments and economies of the Middle Asian republics, the Communist parties of the republics, and the friendship among the Middle Asian peoples, the bureau was closed.