Editing Tashkent (section)

===Effect of the Russian Revolution===
[[File:Ташкент пассаж Ариф-Ходжи.jpg|thumb|Tashkent c. 1910]]
With the fall of the [[Russian Empire]], the [[Russian Provisional Government]] removed all civil restrictions based on religion and nationality, contributing to local enthusiasm for the [[February Revolution]]. The [[Tashkent Soviet]] of Soldiers' and Workers' Deputies was soon set up, but primarily represented Russian residents, who made up about a fifth of the Tashkent population. Muslim leaders quickly set up the Tashkent Muslim Council (''Tashkand Shura-yi-Islamiya'') based in the old city. On 10 March 1917, there was a parade with Russian workers marching with red flags, Russian soldiers singing ''[[La Marseillaise]]'' and thousands of local Central Asians. Following various speeches, Governor-General [[Aleksey Kuropatkin]] closed the events with words "Long Live a great free Russia".<ref>Jeff Sahadeo, ''Russian Colonial Society in Tashkent,'' Indiana University Press, 2007, p188</ref>

The First Turkestan Muslim Conference was held in Tashkent 16–20 April 1917. Like the Muslim Council, it was dominated by the [[Jadid]], Muslim reformers. A more conservative faction emerged in Tashkent centered around the [[Ulema]]. This faction proved more successful during the local elections of July 1917. They formed an alliance with Russian conservatives, while the Soviet became more radical. The Soviet attempt to seize power in September 1917 proved unsuccessful.<ref>Rex A. Wade, ''The Russian Revolution, 1917,'' Cambridge University Press, 2005</ref>

In April 1918, Tashkent became the capital of the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic ([[Turkestan ASSR]]). The new regime was threatened by White forces, ''[[basmachi]];'' revolts from within, and purges ordered from Moscow.