In November 1926 he was transferred to the Central Asian Military District as commander of the 3rd Turkestan Rifle Division. In 1927 he graduated from the Frunze Military Academy. In November 1929 he was appointed commander of the 2nd Turkestan Rifle Division. For five years he participated in battles with the Basmachi movement in Southern Turkestan. Since 1931 he has been a senior lecturer at the Frunze Military Academy. In February 1937, he was appointed commander of the 57th Rifle Division in the Ural Military District.