Scientists declassify documents on victims of political repression

Kazakh scientists are declassifying archival documents and collecting previously unknown information concerning victims of political repression. They study materials stored in the closed funds of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, as well as in the departmental archives of the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Security Committee. Specially created 10 working groups are engaged in the search of information in the regions. The research materials will be combined into several collections. One of them is planned to be released at the end of the year. In addition to rehabilitation of repressed people, scientists are actively searching for their burial sites.

“In our plans, methodological guidelines and instructions we suggest that regional commissions visit districts, send expeditions, volunteer groups, involve local historians, activists, so that they find the burial places. Monuments are erected there, some signs so that people know them,” said Sabyr Kassymov, Head of the Project Office of State Commission.

“There is a list of the repressed. The descendants do not know about it. If we find out their fate, we will be able to tell what they were and what they did for the good of the people. After all, many fought famine. They opposed the seizure of livestock and grain from people. The repressed protested against this injustice. In the end, this decision of the authorities resulted in a huge tragedy - the famine. Now we want to talk about the heroic deeds of those previously repressed, to whitewash and rehabilitate their names and deeds,” added Berik Abdygaliuly, Member of Mazhilis, the Lower House of Kazakh Parliament.

Translation by Saule Mukhamejanova

Editing by Galiya Khassenkhanova