N. Nazarbayev meets with descendants of victims of Stalinist repressions

In particular, the meeting has been attended by the descendants of Kazakhstani victims of mass repressions: son of Ilyas Zhansugurov - Sayat, daughter of Turar Ryskulov - Saule Ryskulova, daughter of People's Commissar for Education Uzakbay Ulumbetov - Kabira Karabalina, daughter-in-law of famous poet Magzhan Zhumabayev - Sheker Kakharmanova, daughter of Khvan Unden who was deported to Kazakhstan in the 1930s-1940s - Raissa Khvan and Chairman of Wainakh Chechen-Ingush Ethno-cultural Association Salman Geroyev who was deported to Kazakhstan with his family.

Besides, among the participants were the descendants of the victims of repressions and those deported to Kazakhstan in the 30s and 50s of the last century, namely daughter of Torekul Aitmatov who had been repressed in 1937 - Rozetta Aitmatova, son of Soviet actress, prisoner of Algeria (acronym for Akmolinskiy camp for wives of traitors of the Motherland) Raissa Plisetskaya - Azariy Plisetsky, grandson of former prisoner of Algeria Nadezhda Kalandadze - Paata Kalandadze, who is currently the Ambassador of Georgia to Kazakhstan.

"We have gathered today to remember those years, to pay tribute to our ancestors who were repressed", the Head of the State said.

From the first days of its independence Kazakhstan has adhered the ideas of tolerance, equality and friendship of all nations, stability in the country.

"Due to this our country enjoys respect and trust in the world; due to tolerance we host the Congress of the World and Traditional Religions Leaders in Astana. We initiate integration processes not only on the territory of the Soviet Union but also in the whole world", N. Nazarbayev said.

During the period from 1924 to 1954 100, 000 Kazakhstanis were subjected to repressions, the fourth part of them were shot. Among them were outstanding public figures, the representatives of creative and scientific intelligentsia, namely, Turar Ryskulov, Alikhan Bokeikhanov, Beimbet Mailin, Magzhan Zhumabayev, Akhmet Baitursynov, Myrzhakyp Dulatov, Abdulla Rozybakiyev, Magazi Masanchi, Ilyas Zhansugurov, Levon Mirzoyan, Saken Seifullin, Sanzhar Asfendiyarov, Khalel Dosmukhanbetov and Zhakhansh Dosmukhanbetov. Notorious GULAG (acronym for the Chief Administration of Corrective Labor Camps and Colonies), Algeria and other camps functioned on the territory of the republic at that time. Around 42% of Kazakh people died as a result of political repressions, forced collectivization and hunger caused by Goloshekin's policy, the same number of people had to leave the Motherland. Over 3 mln 777 thousand people underwent Stalinist repressions, 642 thousand of them were sentenced to capital punishment.

On April 14, 1993 the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted the Law On rehabilitation of the victims of mass political repressions.