We will never forget the victims of the tragic years – President

On May 31 – the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repression and Famine – the President of Kazakhstan made a public statement, according to the national portal “Adyrna.” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid tribute to the memory of those who suffered from historical injustices and honored the victims of the tragic years. “Every year on May 31, we commemorate the victims of political repression and famine. We bow our heads in respect to those who perished during those dark times,” the President said. He recalled one of the most sorrowful periods of the last century — the forced collectivization campaign and the resulting famine, which brought immense suffering to the Kazakh people. “Our people perished en masse in the devastating famine. Many were forced to flee abroad in search of survival. During the Stalinist repressions, our nation’s intellectuals and enlightened citizens were persecuted. Thousands were labeled ‘enemies of the people’ and executed without trial,” he stated. The President emphasized that during those tragic years, Kazakhstan lost many of its national leaders and prominent figures in culture and education, including Alikhan Bokeikhan, Akhmet Baitursynuly, Saken Seifullin, and Ilyas Zhansugurov — revered names in the nation’s history.