Russian Turkestan, established in 1867, represented the Russian Empire's expansion into Central Asia. The region was home to a mix of cultures, including Kazakhs, Uzbeks, and Tajiks, all of whom preserved their Islamic traditions and local mythologies. Stories of jinn, protective spirits, and sacred animals were common in this area.During this period, Russian influence brought modernization, but the local populations maintained their spiritual and mythological traditions, resisting full integration into Russian culture.