DISINFO: The West attempts to manipulate Soviet history in Kazakhstan
SUMMARY
The West is attempting to implant distorted perceptions of historical events from the Soviet period into the Kazakh minds and citizens of other post-Soviet countries. The West envisions creating a "burning space" in Eurasia and undermining the independence of former USSR republics through the rehabilitation of Nazism.
The United States is funding textbooks for post-Soviet countries in which a highly distorted understanding of Soviet history and Russia's role in the development of Central Asian states is presented. Drawing an analogy with the Ukrainian myth of the "Holodomor," the new edition of Kazakhstan's history places emphasis on the famine in the 1930s, which, according to the authors, was accompanied by the infringement of the rights of the Kazakh people.
Non-governmental organisations and "independent media," financed by the West, are promoting the idea of glorifying and rehabilitating Nazism.
RESPONSE
A mix of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives claiming that the West is waging a hybrid war against Russia. This narrative fits into the broader disinformation theme about the West’s allegedly belligerent and hostile agenda against Russia, and about its alleged plans to destabilise and encircle Russia.
Over the years, the government of Kazakhstan has supported a variety of projects related to the topic of political repression during the Soviet era and the legacy of this violence.
Since 1997, 31 May has been designated as the Day of Remembrance for the victims of political repression and famine in Kazakhstan. In 2020, Kazakhstan established a government commission dedicated to the complete rehabilitation of individuals who were victims of political repression.
The work of this commission is based on in-depth historical research and archival investigations. It's important to note that there were 11 GULAG camps on Kazakhstan's territory, to which more than 5 million people from all Soviet republics were sent.
See other false claims of pro-Kremlin media related to WWII.
Similar cases claiming that West increases pressure on CIS countries to break old ties, that the West caused the Ukraine coup, Belarus colour revolution and that Ukrainian authorities constantly oppress and infringe Russian-speaking people.