In Kazakhstan, Russia Looms Large Over World War II Commemorations

Kazakhstan celebrated a great military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied Victory in World War II and the Defenders of the Homeland Day.

“The great patriotic war was an extremely difficult challenge for all humanity, including Kazakhstan. Those formidable days showed that war only brings sadness and loss, while peace is an invaluable treasure,” President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev saying WednesdayAddressing thousands or participants of the parade.

“In our country, the Bcyrlarğa Tağzym [‘Tribute to Heroes’ in Kazakh] March will take place, dedicated to Kazakstani’s frontline soldiers. The descendants of the most bloody war participants in human history will carry their portraits through the streets, “he continued.

Like other residents of Asia Central who fought in World War II as part of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan officially marks on May 9. But this year’s anniversary parade tok places Etosmmoms Tokaybebs.

“Tokayev has attended celebrations of Victory Day in the Red Square Regularly since 2022, as well as other leaders of Central Asia. This is a matter of utmost importance [to him]”Said Temur Umarov, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analyst.

“The leaders of the countries of Central Asia understand that Victory Day is a fundamental holiday for Putin’s worldview, and rejecting an invitation would be considered a personal insult,” Umarov added.

It is just an example of the long shadow launched by Russia on the celebrations of Victory Day in this country of Central Asia.

The decision to celebrate a military parade out of place with the holidays apparently generated much less questions from the public in Kazakhstan than the Bcyrlarğa Tağzym March, which is to serve as the analogue of the immortal regiment spread by Russia.

Born from a base movement, the immortal regiment was the first hero in the Siberian city of Tomsk in 2012. He was soon co -opted by the Russian authorities and became a global event.

Originally, the procession was Meean To allow the descendants of deceased veterans to connect with their family history, marching symbolically on behalf of their relatives. Critics note That the advancement of the Kremlin event made it a useful propaganda tool that inflates Russia’s role in the defense of Nazi Germany and reinforces the stories of imperial revenge.

A separate content point is the broad use of the St. Jorge’s ribbons of orange and black stripes in the events of the immortal regiment worldwide.

Popularized by Russia as a symbol or victory in Second World WarThe tape was widely Used As a symbol of the pro-ruso feeling in Ukraine from the early stages of the conflict in 2014 and now appears in symbols that support the large-scale invasion of the Kremlin.

In Central Asia and the Caucasus, the tape was associated With the colonial expansion of Russia long before the invasion of Ukraine, having been accustomed to decorate Imperial Russian soldiers for military achievements in their wars of conquest.

This year, most regional authorities in Kazakhstan have banned processions of the immortal regiment, citing the lack of free public spaces or have transferred the online event.

The news of the prohibition caused a Avalanche or deface videos In which public officials and prominent journalists ask people to join processions challenging the official prohibition and the threat of judgment.

“It seems that Russian propaganda is completely desperate because nobody is a chicken to come to their party.” saying The prominent journalist Asem Zhapisheva, who appeared in one of the videos generated by AI.

“Just in case: May 9 is not a vacation for me, but a day of memory. And yes, I have people in my family who died in Second World War – Four of them. But I did not invite anyone to a festival of striped tape lovers, it is not such a great event, “he added in a telegram post.

Authorities in Almath, the largest city in Kazakstan, in any case approval The Rally under the name Bcyrlarğa Tağzym After a push Of local veteran groups.

The city of Sitey in the northeast of Kazakhstan will also celebrate a similar event.

Activist Kazajos Zhakyn Kurentaev believes that the author’s possible decision to hold an analogue of the Immortal Regiment could be interpreted as a signal for Moscow.

“It is possible that the authorities decide to retain [the rally] In response to the actions that preceded it. And this, I remind you, was Lavrov or Tokayev’s criticism and Putin call“Kurentaev said Current time of the United States funded. “It was important from a diplomatic point of view.”

The analyst Umarov believes that the relationship with Russia was not exactly central in the decision.

“Russia, or course, sees any attempt from the states of Central Asia to reconsider shared vacations and shared values ​​as an effort to distance Russia’s tremors or simply turn your back,” Umarov told The Moscow Times.

“But Central Asia is not trying to point anything to Moscow [by allowing or banning Immortal Regiment processions]. This is more a matter of internal politics and social stability, ”added Umarov, referring to neighboring Kyrgyzst, where the immortal regiment It will take place With the support of the officials.

The attempts to reinvent Second World War The commemorations in Kazakhstan go hand in hand with the invasion of Russia of Ukraine in 2022. That year, the authorities came up with the idea of ​​changing the name of the manifestation of the immortal regiment and using a blue ribbon with ornaments such as the event of the event event. However, San Jorge’s film was still frequently stained In the event of that year.

Sharipzhan boot, an Oyan activist, Qazaqstan! The civil rights movement believes that “only a small group of people” in Kazakhstan has begun to see May 9 celebrations differently from the large -scale invasion of Ucrine.

“Most still see the ‘great patriotic war’ and war in Ukraine as different ideological conflicts. For many, it is not obvious that Russian fascism goes hand in hand with Pobedobesia [victory-mania]“Sharipzhan told The Moscow Times.” I know people who are against the war in Ukraine, but still come out on May 9 with the portrait of their grandfather. “

Around 178,000 natives of Kazakhstan were serving in the ranks of the Red Army at the beginning of Second World Warwith additional 1.2 million written to fight as the conflict advanced. More than 600,000 drafts, or 11.2% of the population of Kazakhstan at that time, died in the war.

Sharipzhan points out that the world -famous Russian Second World War-The songs like “Smuglyanka“ And “Katyusha”, the films about the war, and the stories of Kazakh heroes such as Bauyyrzhan Mumyshuly, Aliya Moldulova and Manshuk Mametova were fundamental for the education of several generations of Kazakhs.

“I still can’t imagine how exactly we could transform ourselves on May 9 of a” celebration “to a” day of mourning “in Kazakhstan,” said Sharipzhan.

“If you are going to observe on May 9, you should be without parades: place flowers modestly in the eternal flame, share stories about relatives who fought in the war on social networks and talking about how devastating they go to World War II,” he said. “That would be more than enough.”