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Republic of Uyghurstan
Ұйғырстан Республикасы (Kazakh)
Республика Уйгурстан (Russian)
Уйғурстан Җумһурийәт (Uyghur)

Timeline: Russian America

OTL equivalent: Xinjiang (excluding the Aksai Chin and the Trans-Karakoram Tract) and portions of Gansu.
Flag of Uyghurstan
Flag of Uyghurstan
Location of Uyghurstan
Location of Uyghurstan
Capital Ürümqi
Other cities Ghulja, Kashgar, Korla, Shihezi
Language
  official
 
Kazakh, Russian, and Uyghur
  others Dungan, Mandarin, Tibetan
Religion
  main
 
Muslims
  others Buddhists, Eastern Orthodox
Ethnic Groups
  main
 
Kazakhs and Uyghurs
  others Han Chinese, Russians, Tibetans
Demonym Uyghurstani
Government Unitary presidential republic
  Legislature Supreme Council
Independence from the Soviet Union
  declared August 1991
  recognized December 25, 1991
Currency Ruble (₽) (RUR)
Calling Code +7
Organizations CIS, CSTO, UN, URS

Uyghurstan, officially called the Republic of Uyghurstan, is a country in Central Asia. It is bordered by Mongolia to the east, Tibet to the south, Russia to the north, and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and India to the west. Its capital is Ghulja.

Uyghurstan is home to the Uyghur ethnic group, with considerable Kazakh, Russian, Kyrgyz, Chinese, and Dungan minorities.

Uyghurstan was formerly known as Xinjiang or Chinese Turkestan. In the 19th century, Russian interests have penetrated the region in the late 19th century, and for a while, controlled parts of Uyghurstan.

In 1912, the Republic of China is declared and at that point, Xinjiang is a province led by a Chinese governor. The provincial government favored Chinese and Hui (Dungans) over the Uyghurs, fueling sentiment.

In 1933, the area along Kashgar rose in revolt and proclaimed an "East Turkestan Islamic Republic". The rebellion was suppressed by the Kuomintang.

During the Second World War, Xinjiang was used as a forward base by the Chinese against the Soviet Union. The Kuomintang purged pro-Soviet officials in the government, and they joined a number of Uyghur exiles clamoring for the Soviet invasion of Xinjiang, and in 1944, the Soviets captured the Ili region to establish the Uyghur Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1945, Soviet rule was extended to the former Xinjiang.

Uyghurstan later was a point of settlement of other groups from the USSR, including Russians, Kalmyks, Tatars, and others. The oil industry became the main industry of the country.

In 1991, the Uyghur Soviet Socialist Republic declared independence as Uyghurstan. While it has been largely peaceful, tensions remain against its border with Pakistan and India, the government fearing militant groups would try to infliltrate their country and overthrow their government. Tibet also accused Uyghurstan of forcibly Uyghur-izing Tibetans in Uyghurstan.

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