Kokand was informally turned into a protectorate of the
Russian Empire by treaties signed in 1868 and 1872. The elite of Kokand opposed this course of events and overthrew
Muhammad Khudayar Khan in July 1875.
Nasruddin Khan was placed onto the throne.
Konstantin Petrovich von Kaufmann, governor-general of
Russian Turkestan, feared that Kokand might ally with the
Khanate of Bukhara or
Yettishar and then, with British support, oppose Russia's presence in the region. The Russians launched an invasion in August 1875, and Nasruddin signed a treaty on 22 September, which formally established Kokand as a Russian protectorate. All of Kokand's territory on the right bank of the
Syr Darya and
Naryn rivers were ceded to Russian Turkestan. Nasruddin was overthrown on 10 October 1875, and replaced by Pulat. Pulat positioned his forces in the
Alay Range, but was defeated by the Russians. Emperor
Alexander II of Russia signed a decree on 19 February 1876, which annexed the khanate into the Russian Empire. Pulat was captured shortly after the annexation. He was executed by hanging in
Margilan for killing 12 Russian prisoners of war. ==Notes==