Particulars of Criminal Proceedings at Kalmykia’s Zargo in the Mid-Nineteenth Century: Analyzing Files of Cases from the National Archive of Kalmykia

Introduction. The article examines how the Kalmyk law-court of Zargo would hear criminal proceedings in the mid-nineteenth century. The works dealing with the administration of justice among the Kalmyk are few enough, and primarily come from the pre-revolutionary and Soviet eras. As for the modern period, the study of judicial structures and legal procedures in Kalmyk society should be considered from civilizational-cultural and sociological perspectives. Goals. The work attempts a comprehensive description of the Zargo’s criminal hearings and procedures in the mid-nineteenth century. Materials and methods. The paper presents and analyzes some related materials from the National Archives of Kalmykia. The key methodological principles employed are objectivity, historicism, and comprehensiveness. In general, the study rests on the civilizational-cultural approach and essentials of sociological positivism. Results. Our investigation succeeds in characterizing activities and procedures of the mid-nineteenth century Zargo. The archival insights make it possible to conclude how they would conduct investigations in Kalmyk uluses, collect evidence, and arrange legal proceedings at large. The All-Kalmyk Zargo was a higher authority in relation to ulus-level Zargo law-courts and could review the latter’s decisions and sentences. Criminal cases involving ethnic Kalmyk defendants fell under the jurisdiction of the Zargo. If a criminal case involved Cossacks, urban commoners or peasants, as well as Kalmyk Christians, the Zargo would hear it and issue a sentence only in relation to Kalmyks proper, while decisions for representatives of other classes were to be made by due authorities according to jurisdiction. Despite criminal cases were considered in accordance with Russian criminal legislation, the Kalmyk civilizational and cultural features did have significant influence on legal procedures.

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