Expansion with Central Asia

At the midst of the 19^th century Turkistan was a vast area comprising of a number of khanates and emirates populated with Turks among them were Bukhara Emirate, Khiva and Koqand Khanates[12] were the largest. These different lands always looked mysterious and attracting to Russians who were trading beneficially with these Central Asian countries since the time of Peter I. The Russian Emperors were much interested in establishing good business relations and control over this region. Over there Russians met endless and waterless deserts, moving sands and heating sunshine causing people to collapse unconsciously rather than concentrating all physical strength for fighting and management.

The Russian Expansion into Central Asia started in 1853 when the Military Governor of Orenburg V. Perovsky attacked and seized a large fortress Ak-Mosque (modern Kizil-Orda) on the banks of the Syr-Darya River. In 1864 the Defense Ministry of Russia continued strengthening of the Siberian and Orenburg provinces protecting the security of the Russian borders from attacks of Koqand, Khiva and Bukhara tribes. Following this aim there was a need in expanding and in May of 1864, a Russian regiment of 1500 soldiers under command of Colonel Verevkin moved forward to Turkistan. Another Russian unit of 2500 soldiers under command of Colonel Mikhail Chernyaev started moving to Auliye-Ata (modern Chimkent). In a month time the both oriental fort posts were conquered and both colonels were promoted to the rank of General-Mayors.

General-Mayor Mikhail Chernyaev became extremely popular because of his huge success in Central Asia. Newspapers of Saint Petersburg were publishing numerous articles about him. Popularity of Mikhail Chernyaev was explained by the fact that he was awarded with three state orders and promoted to the rank of General-Major.

Despite several military failures Russians were moving backwards aggressive and resistible Asian warriors occupying one town after another. By the beginning of the 1870s large areas boundary by the left bank of the Syr-Darya River came under protection of Russia. The Russian soldiers and missionaries started creating a boundary line comfortable and secured constructing a number of fortified shelters and forts.

FOCUS ON STRUCTURE: PASSIVE VOICE

Following the model below, change the forthcoming sentences from active to passive voice.

MODEL: The Khan of Khiva watched Russians cautiously. Russians were watched by the Khan of Khiva.

1. This peaceful treaty between Russia and Khiva might easily take place.

2. The General Governor of Turkistan Mr. Constantine Kaufman reported to Saint Petersburg about hundreds of Russians tortured in custody.

3. The Chief-Governor Mr. Constantine Kaufman reprimanded him and sent him away to Tiflis.

4. Local Khivian authorities and clergymen didn’t pay much tribute to community education.

5. Constantine Kaufman initiated construction of sixty primary schools and two grammar schools.

6. Mikhail Skobelev with two hundred of Cossacks and two guns beat the avant guarde of the enemy Mangishlak group of two thousand hundred forty people.

Now, compose five more sentences about the present day policy in Russia toward Central Asian countries.