Gorny Badakhshan: the Prehistory and the Foundations for an Autonomous Region in the Pamir Mountains

The article explores the historical background and the process of creating the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO), which was proclaimed on January 2, 1925. It delves into the stages of the Russian Empire's takeover of the Pamirs in the late 19th century, examining the military and administrative governance of the region and its interactions with the Bukharan Emirate. The study also sheds light on the changes that occurred after the revolutionary events of 1917, including the power struggle in the region and the integration of the Pamirs into the Soviet administrative system. Particular attention is paid to the national-territorial delimitation of Central Asia in 1924 and the political reasons for including GBAO within the Tajik ASSR. The article is based on archival documents, historical research, and contemporary accounts. It demonstrates that the creation of GBAO was a result of long-term geopolitical, administrative, and socio-economic processes.