Breach of rights of Russian businessmen in the Uryankhai region of the beginning of the 20th century in reports of I.Ya. Korostovets (on the prehistory of the “Uryankhai question”)

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The article is an analysis of diplomatic notes of I.Ya. Korostovets, Russian diplomat and orientalist, devoted to the problem of oppression of Russian businessmen in the Uryankhai Region by Qing authorities at the end of 1900s. Within the context of intricate and controversial Russian-Chienese relations during this time this problem became a starting point in the development of so called “Uryankhai question”, i.e., problem of affiliation of Uryankhai Region (Tuva). Korostovets decided to solve this problem by attempts of restoration of broken rights of Russian businessmen, but soon he concentrated on the necessity of further strengthening of Russian positions in the region in general as well as on possibilities of using the “question” as an instrument of diplomatic pressure on the Qing Empire including aspects which were not connected with the Russian interests in the Uryankhai Region. The base of the research archival and published documents – dispatches and letters of I.Ya. Korostovets who was a Russian ambassador in Beijing this time but already was deeply interested in the global problem of relations between Russia, China and Mongolia. The propositions of I.Ya. Korostovets were interesting for Russian authorities and later substantially contributed to formation (and soon decision) of the “Uryankhai question”. At the same time they accentuated the problems of Russian policy towards the Qing Empire at the second half of 1900s as well as covered the Qing policy in Mongolia and other northern imperial regions this time.

Keywords: Russian-Chinese relations, Russian Empire, Qing Empire, Uryanlkhai Region, Mongolia at the beginning of the 20th c., I.Ya. Korostovets, international trade law

For citation: Pochekaev R.Yu. Breach of rights of Russian businessmen in the Uryankhai region of the beginning of the 20th c. in reports of I.Ya. Korostovets (on the prehistory of the “Uryankhai question”). Modern oriental studies. 2021; 3 (4):