SOVIET LABOR CAMPS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

Abstract. Thousands of Kazakhstanis, convicted for political crimes under the Soviet Union, served their sentences in Karlag, Steplag, ALGIR, and other structures of the Gulag. Victims of political persecution, along with their families who were unjustly accused, participated in the development of industry and agriculture in the forced labor camps located in the central part of Kazakhstan. However, to thoroughly analyze the impact of persecution during this period on the broader population, we consider it essential to investigate the socio-demographic characteristics of those who endured persecution.

The chronological scope of the history of punishment for victims of political repression in Kazakhstan spans a 40-year period from 1918 to 1958, with particular emphasis from the late 1920s to the mid-1950s. During these years, the system of forced labor camps was officially established and operationalized in the USSR, serving as the primary vehicle for implementing the Soviet state's punitive policies. This encompassed all territories and peoples of the Soviet Union, as GULAG facilities were situated in every region and republic. A comprehensive review of historical data about this extended research period on such a complex historical issue, including comprehensive studies covering various regions of the country and the locations of forced labor camp construction, facilitates the resolution of contentious aspects of the problem, gathering diverse perspectives, exchanging opinions, and establishing the truth on the matter.