Otto I. Makstenek: at the Origins of the Mongolian Revolution of 1921

Introduction. The Mongolian Revolution of 1921 was the result of active bilateral interaction between Mongolian and Soviet revolutionaries. It was the authorized representative of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR to Mongolia O. I. Makstenek who contributed a lot to the preparation of the Mongolian Revolution of 1921: he participated in the Soviet-Mongolian negotiations of 1920-1921, and met Mongolian delegates who arrived at the border point of Troitskosavsk from Outer Mongolia. Goals and Objectives. The article studies O. I. Makstenek’s activities when a Soviet Russia’s plenipotentiary representative to Mongolia from June 1920 to March 1921. To facilitate this, the work 1) examines the then political situation in Mongolia and adjacent territories – the Russian Far East and Baikalia (as reported by O. I. Makstenek), 2) introduces into scientific discourse some archival materials dealing with his informational, organizational, diplomatic, political, and economic efforts. Materials. The study investigates documents stored by the Archives of Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs titled ‘O. I. Makstenek, Authorized Officer of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs in Mongolia, and Results of His Work: 1 June 1920 to March 1921’. Results. The study reveals previously unknown and valuable facts about diverse and productive activities of O. I. Makstenek. It casts light on details and peculiarities of his 1920 Troitskosavsk-based meetings with MPRP (Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party) members, February 1921 debates on the occupation of Maimaicheng; identifies names of involved Soviet, Mongolian and Chinese leaders, White Guard commanders. Conclusions. The authorized representative of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR to Mongolia O. I. Makstenek could not leave for Urga staying in Troitskosavsk between June 1920 and March 1921 but did a great job in preparing the Mongolian revolution of 1921. It was through his efforts that the Mongolian delegates without any restrictions were travelling via Troitskosavsk to other cities of the Far Eastern Republic and Soviet Russia, and would organize meetings of the MPRP in Troitskosavsk.

Mongolian revolution, O. I. Makstenek, Troitskosavsk, Urga, People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the RSFSR, Comintern

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