Address by the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on the occasion of Remembrance Day for Victims of Political Repression and Famine

Dear compatriots!

Political repressions of the 1920s-50s of the XX century are a sad page in the history of our people.

Since gaining independence Kazakhstan took measures to perpetuate the memory of this tragedy's victims.

In 1993 Kazakhstan adopted the Law «On the rehabilitation of the victims of massive political repressions».

In 1997 First President of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev proclaimed to declare May 31 the Remembrance Day for Victims of Political Repression and Famine.

We all remember the enormous harm caused by the "Great Purge" to peoples who lived in the Soviet state. More than 5 million people were exiled to Kazakhstan from all over the Soviet Union during the years of repression.

About 100 thousand Kazakhstanis were also repressed, more than 20 thousand of them were shot dead.

Prominent state and political figures such as Alikhan Bokeikhan, Akhmet Baitursynuly, Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpaev, Myrzhakyp Dulatuly, Turar Ryskulov, Magzhan Zhumabayev, Saken Seifullin, Iliyas Zhansugurov, Beimbet Mailin, Sanjar Asfendiyarov, and many others were among the innocent convicts.

The relatives, wives, and children of political prisoners were sent to the Akmola camp of wives of traitors to the motherland (ALZHIR), the sorrowful sign of atrocities and cynicism of those years.

Today we bitterly remember those who died of hunger in the years of collectivization or were forced to leave their motherland. About 3 million people have suffered this disaster.

The memory of the immense human sacrifices and violent tragedy of those years left a deep trace in the heart of every Kazakhstan citizen.

For many peoples who suffered from totalitarianism, the Kazakh land has become a real home. The courage and patience of our forefathers allowed us to pass with dignity the hardest trials and unite into one nation.

Monuments "Thousands of thanks to Kazakh people" established today the countrywide speak for gratitude to humanism and wisdom of the Kazakh people.

In order to complete the restoration of historical justice, I have entrusted to set up the State commission for the rehabilitation of the victims of political repressions.

Keeping alive the memory of those unjustly condemned, we can build a bright future, the cornerstone of which remains our Independence.

On this sad day, each of us should pay tribute to all of those who innocently became the victims of one of the most terrible tragedies of the last century.