The Administration of Justice in Kalmykia in the 19th century

Abstract

This article based on literary sources and Russian regulatory acts researches the process of a Zargo court development and judicial proceedings in Kalmykia in the XIX century. The article shows the step by step integration of the Kalmyks into Russian legislation system. In the XVII-XVIII centuries the highest judicial authority was represented by khan. Judicial authority was as well given to feudal aristocracy such as noyons and zaysangs. Zargo court, a Kalmyk court was an important judicial and administrative institute. Zargo was an advisory unit under Kalmyk khan and did administrative management and jurisdiction on the most important affairs. Judicial procedure in the XVII-XVIII centuries was based on mongol-oyrats’ laws of the 1640s and additional decrees of Kalmyk khan Donduk-Dashi. After the biggest part of the Kalmyk population left Russia, Russian government made arrangements in establishing management for the Kalmyks remained including the organization of the judicial procedure and functioning of the Zargo court. Rules for Kalmyk nation management dated by the year of 1825 determined that the Zargo court should deal with the civil cases up to 400 rubles, and ulus courts should deal with the cases up to 200 rubles. Criminal cases were considered by Russian authorities. After the Regulations of Kalmyk Nation Management of the years 1834 and 1847 were passed, Russian judicial fundamentals were established. According to the Regulation of the year 1834, the Zargo court became the Kalmyks’ highest judicial authority. In Zargo court one could appeal against judgments and decisions of ulus courts. The decisions of the Zargo court could be appealed against only in Senate. Criminal cases verdicts were to be confirmed by Astrakhan military governor who sent them for an execution. The Zargo court was disestablished after the issue of the Regulations of the year 1847. There remained only ulus Zargo courts where the civil cases up to 30 rubles and small crimes were considered. At the same time, civil cases of Kalmyks were considered according to Mongol-Oyrats’ (Kalmyk) rules and habits. Criminal cases needed to be considered according to Russian laws. So here how it comes that Kalmyks were integrated into Russian judicial system in the XIX century.