Sahin Giray
Sahib Giray Khan II that was elected by the Grand Assembly saw the danger that was approaching from Russia. Therefore, it became submissive to the group that was the supporter of the Ottomans. Most of the Muslim people and the scholars of Muslim theology got separated from the princes that continuously followed a case of independence against the Ottomans. The Beys rebelled and forced the khan to run away to Istanbul. However, Devlet Giray that they wanted to enthrone could not withstand the attacks of Sahib Giray that was supported by the Russians. Sahin Giray settled in Taman and he was able to gather some of the princes around him. In November 1776, he defeated Devlet Giray and forced him to flee away through the support of the Russian forces. The Russians settled in Or-Kapi.
Sahin Giray seemed to believe in the promises and guarantees granted by Russia for the independent Crimean Khanate. Sahin Giray had been familiar with the western civilisation since he had participated in the Russian army. Therefore, he planned to get separated entirely from the Ottoman caliph and to establish a western state according to the model of Russia. His desires for the adoption of European traditions, the organisation of the army according to the western procedures, the eradication of the feudal position of princes and the increase of taxes arouse dissatisfaction. The Muslim people started to consider him as a partner of Russians with a wiew of Non-Muslim person. Most of the Russians in the Crimea and Kuban were annihilated by the people. Sahin Giray that was attacked and injured ran away from Bahçesaray and took shelter in his protectors. Baht Giray that was appointed from Istanbul came with the Ottoman auxiliary forces and he ascended the throne. Before long, Sahin Giray established domination through the support of the Russian forces. The Russians invaded Kefe and the other ports of the Crimea (the winter of 1777). The two attempts of Selim Giray who was sent by the Ruler against Sahin Giray ended up with failure (1778). The Muslim Crimean people started to run away to Turkey in crowded groups. Instead of them, the Russians brought and settled an immigrant group composed of 75.000 people into this region. The country was on the verge of abandonment and ruins (the population of the peninsula was estimated as a half million in this period).
The situation in the Crimea led to an inevitable war between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. The negotiations that were initiated between the two parties ended up with the conclusion of Aynali-Kavak Armistice (10th March 1779) and this conclusion eradicated the possibility of war for a specific period. In this agreement, the 3rd article of Küçük Kaynarca Convention pertaining to the full independency of the Crimean khan was explained. In the 3rd and 4th articles of this agreement, the Russians undertook that they would evacuate the Crimea and Taman within 3 months and 20 days and "they would not land troops in these regions again under any circumstances and grounds". The Suplime Ottoman Government accepted the same issue and acknowledged to have recognised Sahin Giray as khan who was appointed in accordance with the procedures specified. The Russians were obliged to accept these conditions since the majority of the Crimean people did not want to recognise Sahin Hiray as their khan without the affirmation of the ruler.
On the other hand, the Ottoman State preferred to recognise the Crimea as an independent khanate rather than the recognition of it under the Russian invasion. Therefore, the Ottomans accepted that their domination over the khanate had become only a dominion by name that was said but not meant. However, in the 5th article of the same agreement, Russia promised that they would be subject to the approval of the khan in relation with their allegation for domination in the region located in the north of Oçakof. This was an article that was arranged in an artful manner. In relation with these lands that they actually possessed, the Russians planned to bring discord between the khan and the ruler and to pretend to be the protectors of the khan. Pursuant to this agreement, the Ottoman State tried to separate the Nogay people and the Circassians on the coasts of Kuban and Black Sea on the grounds that they were their own people under their domination. Therefore, the Ottomans tried at least to defend the regions located in the north of the Black Sea that were under their domination since the Crimea was not under their control any longer. However, Russia insisted upon the annexation of these lands to the khanate in order to annex these lands to the empire in the future.