Kazakhstan Marks Day Of Remembrance For Victims Of Political Repression And Famine

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed Kazakhstanis on the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression and Famine, Orda.kz reports.

In his address, Tokayev said Kazakhstan honors the memory of all those who fell victim to political repression in the first half of the last century every year on May 31.

Our moral duty is to remember them and remain faithful to the principles of lawfulness and the values of justice,Tokayev said.

The president noted that Kazakhstan is consistently creating conditions for the comprehensive protection of citizens’ rights and freedoms. He said this responsibility of the state was legally enshrined in the Constitution adopted through a national referendum on March 15.

According to Tokayev, Kazakh society has chosen the path of building a progressive state.

This means that we will be guided by the principles of justice, lawfulness, patriotism, diligence, and care for nature, while also giving priority to the development of science, high technology, culture, and volunteerism,the address reads.

Tokayev said Kazakhstan has become known to the world as a state striving for progress in all spheres of public life. He emphasized that unity and stability must be strengthened to achieve greater results.

I am confident that our country has a bright future,Tokayev said.

A year earlier, Orda.kz reported that a concert dedicated to the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression and Famine, scheduled for May 31 at the Almaty Theatre, was abruptly canceled without official explanation. Kazakhstan has observed this day since 1997 to honor victims of Soviet-era political repression, mass deportations, and famine. 

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• Tokayev Honors Victims of Repression and Famine