Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast

(Redirected from Oyrat Autonomous Oblast)

The Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast (Russian: Горно-Алтайская автономная область, romanized: Gorno-Altayskaya avtonomnaya oblast') was an autonomous oblast of the Soviet Union, inhabited by the Altai people. Formed as the Oyrot Autonomous Oblast (Russian: Ойротская Автономная область, romanized: Oyrotskaya Avtonomnaya oblast') on 1 June 1922, it was later renamed on 7 January 1948. It self-declared sovereignty as the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (Gorno-Altai ASSR; Russian: Горно-Алтайская Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика, romanized: Gorno-Altayskaya Avtonomnaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika) on 25 October 1990[1], although not recognized at the time.[2] It was promoted to a Soviet Socialist Republic on by an amendment to the Russian Constitution on 3 July 1991 and renamed to the Altai Republic on 31 March 1992, becoming a federal subject of the Russian Federation.[3]

Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast
Autonomous oblast of the Soviet Union
1922–1990
Location of the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast within the RFSFR.
CapitalGorno-Altaysk
DemonymGorno-Altaian
History 
 Established
1922
25 October 1990
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Confederated Republic of Altai
Altai Republic

Its capital was Gorno-Altaysk.[2] Agriculture was the main occupation for most of the inhabitants.[4] Like the modern Altai Republic, the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast shared its international border with the People's Republic of China.

A minor planet 2232 Altaj discovered in 1969 by Soviet astronomer B. A. Burnasheva is named after Altai.[5]

Scene in the Kosh-Agachsky District, Gorno-Altai AO, 1989
Musician Aleksey Grigoriy uly Kalkin in the Gorno-Altai AO, 1978

History

edit

When the region became the Oyrot Autonomous Region in 1922, the region's capital was originally called Ulala. In 1928 Ulala was renamed to Oyrot-Tura in 1932. However, in 1948 the state changed the name of the region to the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast. With it, Ulala was again renamed, this time to Gorno-Altaysk.[3]

Education

edit

The Gorno-Altaisk State University[6] was founded in 1949, with only 10 teachers. In 1993 it became a classical university.[7]

Demographics

edit

Ethnic groups

edit

The 1989 census states that ethnic Russians make up 60.4% of Gorno-Altai's population, with the ethnic Altai people at 31.0%. Other groups include Kazakhs (5.6%) and several smaller groups, accounting for less than 5% of the population when put together. Comparing it to the 2002 census, the ethnic Altais have significantly increased in numbers.

1989 census 2002 census[8]
Altai people 59,130 (31.0%) 67,745 (33.5%)
Russians 115,188 (60.4%) 116,510 (57.4%)
Kazakhs 10,692 (5.6%) 12,108 (6.0%)
Other people 5,821 (3.1%) 6,443 (3.2%)

Religion

edit

Some Altai people converted to Christianity, but in 1904 a new religion, Burkhanism (the "white faith"), had pervaded the community of native Altaians.[9] Burkhanism helped to encourage anti-Russian feelings and was consequently banned by the Communist Party in the 1930s.[10]

Government

edit

This table includes the heads in the time period of Gorno-Altai being an ASSR.

Position Term length Officeholder
First Secretary of the Gorno-Altai Communist Party 1990–1991 Valery Chaptynov
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet 1990–1991 Valery Chaptynov
Chairman of the Executive Committee 1990–1992 Vladimir Petrov

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ""Декларация о государственном суверенитете Горно-Алтайской автономной советской социалистической республики" (принята Решением Горно-Алтайского областного Совета народных депутатов от 25.10.1990)" (in Russian). Региональное законодательство Республики Алтай. Archived from the original on 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  2. 1 2 "Russian S.F.S.R. Administrative Divisions". Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Altai Republic :: official portal". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  4. "Altai Assistance Project - About the Altai". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  5. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (5th ed.). New York: Springer Verlag. p. 181. ISBN 3-540-00238-3.
  6. "Ozarka Enters Agreement with Russian University Ozarka College". Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  7. "Gorn-Altaisk State University GASU". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  8. "Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  9. "Altai Culture". Archived from the original on 5 September 2006. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  10. "Altai Republic". Archived from the original on 1 January 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2011.