Tokayev pays tribute to victims of Stalinist repression and famine in Kazakhstan

Astana, May 31 (EFE).- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid tribute Saturday to the victims of Stalinist repression and famine during his visit to the Alzhir labor camp, famous for housing the wives of Soviet enemies.

"The memory of millions of innocent victims of totalitarianism is sacred. There can be no justification for the inhumane and fundamentally flawed state policies of that time. We must not allow such tragedies to be repeated,” he said, the Kazakh presidency reported.

Every May 31, Kazakhs remember the millions of Soviet citizens who died as a result of the Red Terror and the forced land collectivization.

Tokayev, who has been criticized by ultra-nationalist sectors in Russia for not supporting the war in Ukraine and the annexation of Ukrainian regions, condemned attempts to reinterpret history, glorify the architects of that repression, and erase the memory of those affected.

"History cannot be interpreted through the lens of current politics. Unfortunately, this happens too often. We must free ourselves from the guilt complex. Constantly looking to the past is a sign of weakness,” he said.

As part of the rehabilitation process, he stated that the Central Asian republic had reviewed approximately 2.5 million archival documents and rehabilitated more than 300,000 individuals who had been unjustly persecuted.

The president said that these efforts, which seek to restore historical justice, were unprecedented in any other country.

The Alzhir camp, which Tokayev visited Saturday in the town of Akmol near Astana, housed some 8,000 women of Soviet traitors between 1938 and 1953, including wives of well-known intellectuals who were persecuted.

"Our forebears endured unimaginable suffering. However, they also demonstrated extraordinary humanity and solidarity in helping those in need. This spirit of unity, tolerance, and mutual support is today the foundation of our national identity,” he said.

More than 100,000 Kazakhs were victims of political trials during Stalinism, tens of thousands of whom were executed. In addition, 1.5 million Kazakhs died of starvation during Stalinist collectivization in the 1930s, which claimed the lives of several million people throughout the Soviet Union, many of them Ukrainians. EFE

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ASTANA (KAZAKHSTAN), 31/05/2025.-Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid tribute on Saturday to the victims of Stalinist repression and famine during his visit to the Alzhir labor camp, famous for housing the wives of enemies of the Soviet people. EFE/Presidency of Kazakhstan FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ONLY AVAILABLE TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACCOMPANYING NEWS ITEM (MANDATORY CREDIT)

ASTANA (KAZAKHSTAN), 31/05/2025.-Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid tribute on Saturday to the victims of Stalinist repression and famine during his visit to the Alzhir labor camp, famous for housing the wives of enemies of the Soviet people. EFE/Presidency of Kazakhstan FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ONLY AVAILABLE TO ILLUSTRATE THE ACCOMPANYING NEWS ITEM (MANDATORY CREDIT)