In Kazakhstan, a somber commemoration of the victims of political repression and famine under Josef Stalin’s regime took place on Saturday. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a visit to the ALZHIR memorial, a former Gulag camp, to honor the millions of people who suffered under the Stalinist regime.
Tokayev emphasized the significance of historical truth and highlighted the rehabilitation of over 300,000 victims of political persecution by a state commission. “The remembrance of the innocent victims of totalitarianism is sacred” the president stated. The ALZHIR memorial, where around 8,000 women were imprisoned between 1938 and 1953, has become a symbol of national unity today.
In his speech, the president linked the commemoration to a call for the future. He urged the young generation in particular to learn from the past but look to the future with optimism. The president also touched upon political reforms in Kazakhstan, including the establishment of a constitutional court, the expansion of parliamentary powers and the introduction of direct elections for local officials.