President Tokayev Leads National Reflection on Political Repression and Famine at ALZHIR Memorial
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered a powerful and moving address today at the ALZHIR Memorial Complex, marking Kazakhstan’s annual Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repressions and Famine. Speaking before citizens, historians, and descendants of the persecuted, Tokayev reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to historical justice and charted a clear path toward a unified, progressive future.
The solemn ceremony honoured the memory of millions who perished under the brutal policies of Stalin-era totalitarianism, including the forced collectivisation of the 1930s and the terror campaigns that devastated Kazakhstan’s intellectual and political class. ALZHIR — the Akmol camp for the wives of so-called “traitors to the Motherland” — served as a stark symbol of these injustices. From 1938 to 1953, around 8,000 women were imprisoned in ALZHIR, many solely for being married to accused individuals.
President Tokayev emphasised that the memory of these victims is sacred. “There can be no justification for the inhumane and fundamentally flawed state policies of that period. We must never allow such tragedies to repeat themselves,” he stated.
Kazakhstan has undertaken significant efforts to rehabilitate those who suffered unjust persecution. The State Commission for the Full Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repression, established five years ago, has reviewed more than 2.5 million archival materials and secured the rehabilitation of over 300,000 individuals. This initiative also led to the publication of a 72-volume collection and a dedicated 12-volume archive of cases against members of the Alash Orda movement—unprecedented work even among former Soviet states.
A newly established special research centre under the Presidential Archive now houses 700,000 declassified documents, providing a foundation for long-term academic and educational study. “This is a truly large-scale effort—unprecedented in Kazakhstan’s history,” Tokayev noted.
The President urged citizens not to politicise or reinterpret history through the lens of the present. “Figures once lavishly praised are now cast as villains, and those once condemned are rebranded by propagandists as heroes,” he warned. “We must free ourselves from the victim complex — constantly looking backwards is a sign of weakness.”
Tokayev linked remembrance with national renewal, highlighting sweeping political and constitutional reforms introduced since the 2022 referendum. These include the creation of a Constitutional Court, expansion of parliamentary powers, and direct elections of local officials, designed to foster transparency, justice, and civic participation under the banner of a “Just Kazakhstan.”
He emphasized that national unity, civic responsibility, and historical understanding are the cornerstones of Kazakhstan’s evolving democracy. “Our people are the custodians of the unique cultural code of the Great Steppe civilisation,” he said. “This heritage has helped us endure and preserve our human dignity during times of historic hardship.”
Addressing young people in attendance, President Tokayev encouraged them to embrace history as a source of strength rather than a constraint. “Know your history, but look forward with confidence. Learn, progress, and always be ready to defend our sovereignty,” he said. He also called on Kazakhstan’s youth to be future-ready in a world shaped by uncertainty and rapid technological change.
As Kazakhstan reflects on its tragic past, President Tokayev's message was one of dignity, resilience, and hope. “Remembering and honouring the past is right—but we must move forward and strive for a better future,” he concluded.
Background
The Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repressions and Famine is commemorated annually on May 31. From the 1920s through the 1950s, over 100,000 Kazakhs were convicted for political reasons, with thousands executed. The 1930s famine, induced by Soviet collectivisation policies, claimed over 1.5 million Kazakh lives. Kazakhstan was home to 11 camps within the GULAG system, of which ALZHIR remains one of the most haunting.
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