The article is dedicated to the main political directions followed by Russia in Xinjiang during the period of tsarism, and further by USSR right up to the World War II. The article includes analysis of the main reasons why Russia followed one or another political directions in Xinjiang during the particular historical period. The author concludes that both Russian Empire and USSR used to attentively analyze the developments happening in Xinjiang. This could be explained mainly by the economical and political interests of the country in Central Asian region and, in particular, in Xinjiang province. Such circumstances excluded nonintervention into the business of Xinjiang by Russian, but at the same time did not mean annexation of the territory.

Russian Empire, USSR, Xinjiang, foreign policy, national interests, China