Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repression and Famine

Since 1997, 31 May has been the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repression and Famine in Kazakhstan. It commemorates the gravest tragedies of the Soviet era — the repressions of the 1930s and the great famine known as Asharshylyk.

In the famine of 1931–1933, caused by forced collectivisation and the destruction of the nomadic economy, more than a million Kazakhs died and hundreds of thousands were forced to leave their homeland. During the repressions the intellectuals of the Alash movement — Alikhan Bokeikhanov, Akhmet Baitursynov, Magzhan Zhumabayev and others — were shot.

Places of remembrance

A museum and memorial complex opened in 2007 on the site of the ALZhIR camp near Astana, set up for the "wives of traitors to the Motherland". On this day remembrance ceremonies are held across the country, flowers are laid at memorials and prayers are said for the victims.