The judicial system of kalmyks in the 18th century
https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2016-23-1-28-33
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to review the judiciary system in the Kalmyk society of the 18th century. Based on the analysis of legislative and historiographical sources, the author reconstructed the order of the formation and powers of Zargo. In 1771 when the greater part of Kalmyk uluses migrated to Dzungaria, the Kalmyk khanate was liquidated by a rescript of Catherine II, which resulted in the restructuring of the Kalmyk People Administration (UKN). The Commission for Kalmyk Affairs was attached to the office of the Governor of Astrakhan, where in 1772 the Kalmyk court - Zargo was founded, consisting of three members - by one representative from the three sub-ethnic groups of the Kalmyk people. Instead of the Commission for Kalmyk Affairs, the Kalmyk Military Chancellery was established. However, the reform of P. S. Potemkin proved to be unsuccessful, as well as the decision to delegate the functions of Zargo to the Russian district courts. Having lost the ability to exercise civil proceedings by its own laws, Kalmyks without knowing the Russian language and Russian laws appeared to be vulnerable in legal terms. Having superseded the Governor-General of the Caucasus and the Astrakhan Governor P. S. Potemkin, the State Counsellor - L. S. Alekseev tried to rectify the situation of his predecessor. All civil judicial cases related to the Kalmyk people were transferred to the Kalmyk Chancellery from the lower courts. Though, the land law, criminal and other important cases were in charge of the Caucasian Governor-General and his government. After the tsarist government had abolished the institution of the vicegerency in 1796, Astrakhan and the Caucasus regions regained the status of independent provinces. In 1797 the Kalmyk Chancellery was renamed to the Kalmyk Board and under this title, it continued to combine administrative and judicial functions up to August 1800. Thus, the authors conclude that during the 18th century, as a result of the imperial policy of the authorities, the judiciary system in the Kalmyk society underwent the transformation process.
About the Authors
U. B. Ochirov
Kalmyk Institute for Humanities of the RAS
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
V. S. Shurguchieva
Russian Academy of Justice
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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Review
For citations:
Ochirov U.B., Shurguchieva V.S. The judicial system of kalmyks in the 18th century. Oriental Studies. 2016;9(1):28-33. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2016-23-1-28-33
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