Unmasking colonial myths: Uzbekistan’s historians unveil Russian Empire’s 1865 Tashkent atrocities

According to UzA, the event focused on the resistance efforts in Tashkent against the Russian imperial military forces that took place in June 1865.

It was noted during the event that “The brutal enemy, who launched its campaign to seize Tashkent – one of Turkestan’s oldest and most significant military-political and economic centers – on October 1, 1864, achieved its vile objective on June 29, 1865, capturing the city within nine months.”

Speakers emphasized that during the colonial period, these bloody events were studied and presented solely from the perspective of the colonizers. With the help of various distortions and manipulations, the patriotism and bravery of the people of Tashkent – including men and women, young and old – who fiercely resisted the invaders, were downplayed. Fabricated theories and arguments were promoted in an attempt to justify the colonial policies of the imperial power, as documented in historical sources.

The primary goal of the conference was to present and analyze accumulated perspectives, recent scientific findings, source materials, and new academic approaches related to the topic, as well as to identify unresolved questions.

Opening the event, the director of the Institute and academician, Azamat Ziyo, stressed that the topic at hand is not only of scholarly significance but also carries political weight. He emphasized that the conquest and the resistance should be studied not merely as historical facts, but as a reflection of the true nature of the invaders and the deep-seated desire for freedom among the local population. He called attention to the need to expose the so-called "scientific-theoretical" justifications being subtly instilled to legitimize the Russian Empire’s aggression against Turkestan.

The report stated: “The scholarly opinions and viewpoints shared at the ‘160 Years Since the Conquest of Tashkent: Truth and Fabrications’ conference will undoubtedly serve to equip our people – especially the younger generation – with historical awareness, foster a spirit of patriotism, and reinforce the sacred duty to safeguard our peace, stability, and independence as dearly as the apple of our eye.”