Will the "Immortal Regiment" Be Held in Kazakhstan in 2025?

The fate of the Immortal Regiment march in Kazakhstan in 2025 remains uncertain. In some regions, the event has been officially canceled; in others, it’s being shifted to online formats. In many places, including Astana and Almaty, local authorities have yet to make any clear announcements.

Activists are now calling on the president to provide clarity, Orda.kz reports.

Ahead of May 9, Ainur Kurmanov, a political scientist and opposition figure, wrote on his Telegram channel that activists in Almaty had been denied permission to hold a march in the format of the "Immortal Regiment."

According to him, the organizers had planned to carry portraits of veterans of the Great Patriotic War and Soviet symbols, but city officials rejected the proposal.

In response, a group of public figures, veterans, and activists released a video appeal directly addressed to President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev, asking him to intervene and resolve the issue.

The Alma-Ata Akimat has refused to approve an event similar to the 'Immortal Regiment' without providing any clear justification, and also demanded that the video appeal, recorded by representatives of various veterans' and public organizations, not be shared. After multiple rejections, including a refusal to allow an online petition, sharing the video became the only way to inform the public about what’s really happening with the ban on Victory Day marches,said Ainur Kurmanov, referring to the city using an outdated and incorrect name. 

What is the Immortal Regiment?

The Immortal Regiment is a public movement that began in Russia in 2012 as a way to honor the memory of those who fought in the Great Patriotic War.

Participants march through the streets holding portraits of relatives who served during World War II. The initiative quickly spread beyond Russia, becoming a global movement that was adopted in dozens of countries.

In Kazakhstan, the Immortal Regiment was established in 2013, just a year after its introduction in Russia. The idea was warmly received: in cities such as Almaty, Astana, Shymkent, and Petropavlovsk, thousands of people joined the marches, carrying photos of their relatives who had fought in the war.

The movement saw its first large-scale event in Kazakhstan in 2016. In Almaty, participants marched from the monument to war heroines Aliya Moldagulova and Manshuk Mametova.

Around the same time, a similar procession took place in Shymkent.

In 2017, the Immortal Regiment march was held in Petropavlovsk, drawing participation from residents and representatives of various organizations.

The procession was led by military personnel and moved through the city’s main streets.

A year later, in 2018, the event took place in Astana. Participants marched from Independence Square to the Otan Qorgaushylar monument, where they laid flowers in honor of the fallen.

In 2019, the march returned to the capital. Thousands took to the streets, carrying portraits of their relatives who fought in the Great Patriotic War, further solidifying the procession as an annual act of remembrance. According to the organizers' website, more than 30,000 people participated in the march in the years leading up to the pandemic, although this figure has not been officially verified.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought major changes in 2020 and 2021, when public gatherings were restricted. During those years, the Immortal Regiment was held in an online format.

Since 2022, the nature of the event in Kazakhstan has begun to shift. In Almaty, the march is no longer held under the name Immortal Regiment. Instead, a new title has been adopted — Batyrlarga Tagzym, which means “Tribute to the Heroes” in Kazakh.

Along with the name, the symbols have changed too: the once-common St. George’s ribbons, which sparked mixed reactions, have been replaced by blue ribbons featuring national patterns.

Cultural experts and political analysts view these changes as part of Kazakhstan’s broader effort to distance itself from the Russian narrative, particularly after the Immortal Regiment in Russia became associated with the country’s war in Ukraine, where some participants began carrying portraits of soldiers involved in the so-called "special military operation."

Over the years, the event has also drawn controversy. People have placed portraits of Nazi figures on the Immortal Regiment website in Russia. Photos of Hollywood celebrities appeared at the marches. Some nations, like Estonia, have banned the event altogether, deeming it politically provocative and inappropriate.

Immortal Regiment 2025: Marching Forward or Fading Away?

As the 80th anniversary of Victory Day approaches, the future of the Immortal Regiment in Kazakhstan remains uncertain. Once a widespread tradition across the country, the commemorative march is now losing ground, replaced in some cities by digital alternatives and in others, fading from the agenda altogether.

Orda.kz reached out to every region in Kazakhstan to determine whether the event would take place this year. Only a handful of local authorities responded; most Akimats chose to remain silent.

Semey stands out as one of the few cities where a full-scale celebration is still planned. On May 9, Semey will hold both a wreath-laying ceremony at the Eternal Flame and a traditional Immortal Regiment march.

In Taldykorgan, Qyzylorda, Turkistan, Oral, Atyrau, and Qostanay, the march will not be held. In some regions, including Pavlodar and Kostanay, the action has shifted online under the new title Batyrlarga tagzym (Tribute to the Heroes), allowing residents to share photos and stories of veterans via digital platforms and screens.

Meanwhile, a fake video claiming the Akim of North Kazakhstan Region, Gauez Nurmukhambetov, had confirmed the march is circulating online. The local government claims the video was generated by AI and has filed a police report.

In reality, the march in Petropavlovsk will be held online only.

In Qaraganda, officials are still deliberating. The decision on whether the march will take place has not been finalized, and no timeline has been given for when it will occur.

 In Almaty, where activists were reportedly denied permission to organize the march, the Akimat has not responded to Orda.kz's inquiry. The last time the outlet asked back in March, they were also met with silence.

When asked by Orda.kz whether the march would take place in the capital, the Astana Akim Zhenis Kasymbek appeared surprised.

You’re the first person to mention this or ask about it. I’ll remind you that we do have a parade planned for May 7,he said. 

The Ministry of Defense clarified that organizing the Immortal Regiment is not within its responsibilities.

What About the CIS?

In 2025, in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan have confirmed that they will hold the traditional procession.

In Belarus, the march will take place on May 9 and be merged with the ongoing national campaign Belarus Remembers. The central event will take place in Minsk’s Victory Square, with veterans, students, public servants, and citizens in attendance.

Similar processions are planned in other cities, accompanied by flower-laying ceremonies, performances, and nationwide TV broadcasts. The event is officially supported as part of the Union State’s commemorative program.

In Kyrgyzstan, organizers confirmed that the Immortal Regiment will be held in its usual live format. The main procession in Bishkek will end with tributes at memorial sites, a performance by veterans, and participation from students and volunteers.

Local authorities are actively helping with planning and logistics. The event has been held annually in Kyrgyzstan since 2015, and organizers say this year’s march will be especially meaningful, focusing on patriotism and historical memory.

As Orda.kz previously reported, Kazakhstan is preparing for a large-scale celebration of Victory Day. 

Approved in December 2024, the parade will feature 4,500 personnel, a mix of historical and modern military equipment, marching columns, an air show, and a concert. Almaty will host a more modest celebration involving veterans and local residents.

Across the regions of Kazakhstan, hundreds of commemorative events are in the works:

• Semey: traditional parade, veterans’ forum, concerts, and field kitchen meals.
• Taldykorgan: military parade, equipment exhibition, and the renaming of streets in honor of war heroes.
• Qaraganda: concerts, “Windows of Victory,” veteran support, and fireworks.
• Shymkent: 75 events, including sports and cultural programs.
• Pavlodar: broadcast of the parade on large screens and yard concerts.
• Cities like Kokshetau, Qyzylorda, Turkestan, Atyrau, and Oral also plan to mark the day with flower-laying ceremonies and public performances.

Origonal Author: Artyom Volkov