Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / Political Repressions in the Tuva People’s Republic: Was It Possible to Avoid Them?

Full text (.pdf)
Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2017 10 (7)
Authors
Dorzhu, Zoia Iu.; Irgit, Ottuk Iu.
Contact information
Dorzhu, Zoia Iu.: Tuvan State University 36 Lenin Str., Kyzyl, Republic Tuva, 667000, Russia; ; Irgit, Ottuk Iu.: Tuvan State University 36 Lenin Str., Kyzyl, Republic Tuva, 667000, Russia;
Keywords
Tuva People’s Republic; opposition; counterrevolution; repressions; Tuva People’s Revolutionary Party; cult of personality; rehabilitation
Abstract

This article examines the background and causes of political repressions in Tuva and tries to answer the question, whether it was possible to avoid political repressions. The precondition for the repressions appeared in 1921, in the early days of Tuvan People’s Republic (TPR), which received the active support of Soviet Russia. In 1925 students from Tuva were sent to Moscow to study in Communist University of the Toilers of the East (CUTE, also KUTV). Salchak Toka, future leader of Tuva, was one of those students. In 1929 he returned to Tuva and in 1932 he became a general secretary of the Central Committee of the Tuvan People’s Revolutionary Party (TPRP). His policy was directed against the former aristocracy and clergy. As a result one of the founders of the TPR Mongush Buyan-Badyrgy was executed. Moreover, Toka tried to make collectivization in Tuva but failed it. His attempts to copy the Soviet experience and his quickly raising in political arena with his fellows from CUTE led to the emergence of the opposition in TPRP. Opposition members wanted to relieve Toka from general secretary post. In 1936 Toka gave full freedom of action to the Interior Ministry to combat against “public enemies” (“the enemies of the people”). In 1938 all opposition members were arrested and executed. But the political repression against the TPR population started just after victory over opposition. Over 8 % from 90,000 TPR citizens became victims of repression. Consequently Salchak Toka’s actions led to the emergence of the cult of personality in Tuva. We cannot answer “No” to question “Was it possible to avoid political repressions in Tuva?” because repressions against political opposition were inevitable. But if we ask question “Was it possible to avoid massive repressions in Tuva?” answer “No” becomes possible, because Toka could finish repressions after defeating his political enemies

Pages
957-964
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/33648

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