Kazakhstan: Man Declared Victim of Repression After Almost 40 Years

A 64-year-old resident of Aqtobe has been officially recognized as a victim of political repression — nearly four decades after his expulsion from university and persecution in the Soviet era, Orda.kz reports.

The man entered the Faculty of Philosophy and Economics at Kazakh State University in 1985. One year later, during the December 1986 events, he was detained in Almaty on suspicion of participating in mass protests.

That same year, he was expelled from his second year at the university for allegedly disturbing public order. Despite his subsequent release, the student was expelled from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and was subjected to persecution,
 the Supreme Court’s press service stated.

Afterward, he was unable to find work, and his family — including his wife, a fellow graduate of the same university, and their three children — faced significant hardship.

His wife also reported similar pressure during that time.

After reviewing the case, the court concluded that the plaintiff had indeed participated in the December 1986 events and suffered politically motivated persecution, including restrictions on his labor rights.

These circumstances are confirmed by archival certificates from the university and the prosecutor's office of the city of Almaty, as well as by witness testimony,
 the court found.

Nearly 40 years after the events, the plaintiff has been officially recognized as a victim of political repression.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina