Among Uzbekistan’s most significant political and administrative decisions, the transfer of the capital from Samarkand to Tashkent holds a unique place. Nearly a century later, questions remain about why this monumental shift occurred in just one day. In this article, we explore the motivations behind the decision, its social, political, and economic impact, and its lasting significance.
The Formation of the Uzbek SSR
As Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Kahramon Rajabov notes in his book, the First Constituent Congress of All Uzbek Soviets took place from February 13 to 17, 1925, in a specially built People’s House in Bukhara. On February 17, the congress adopted a declaration establishing the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Uzbek SSR), which was subsequently “voluntarily” incorporated into the Soviet Union.
The newly formed Uzbek SSR encompassed Tashkent, Samarkand, Fergana, Kashkadarya, Zarafshan (Bukhara), Surkhandarya, Khorezm regions, and the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Tajik ASSR). At the time, its total area was recorded as 184,836 km², though some sources cite 176,774 km². The population stood at approximately 4mn, excluding the territories and inhabitants of the Tajik ASSR and the Karakalpak Autonomous Republic.
According to Professor Kahramon Rajabov, when the Uzbek SSR was first established, Bukhara briefly served as its capital from February to April 1925. The capital was then relocated to Samarkand, which held this status from April 1925 to September 1930. Samarkand’s central location played a crucial role in unifying the newly formed republic and facilitating the work of Soviet institutions.
Once local governance structures were strengthened and their ties with central authorities solidified, the capital was moved again—this time to Tashkent, the republic’s economic, political, and cultural hub. On September 20, 1930, Fayzulla Khojayev, then Chairman of the Uzbek SSR government, orchestrated the transfer of the capital from Samarkand to Tashkent in a single day, as Rajabov details in his book.
Geopolitical Considerations
While Samarkand boasted a rich history and cultural heritage, Tashkent was viewed as a more modern and strategically positioned center, better suited to integrate into the evolving political landscape of the Soviet era.
As part of the administrative reorganization, Tashkent was eventually divided. The main part of the city was incorporated into the Uzbek SSR, while portions of the surrounding Syrdarya region, including the lands around present-day Turkestan and Shymkent, were transferred to Kazakhstan.
In the following decades, Kazakhstan shifted its focus toward developing its own political and economic hubs. Almaty became the capital, serving as the country’s administrative center for much of the Soviet period, before the capital was moved to Astana.
