Framing Repression: Museums, Memory, and the Soviet Past in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

• In Event: Narrating Repression, Rewriting Trauma: Contested Legacies in Museums, Memory, and Discourse

Abstract

This presentation examines how state-run museums in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan address the Soviet legacy of mass political repression. This study focuses on two Karlag museums in Kazakhstan and the Museum of Repression in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. A key objective of the presentation is to explore why these two countries employ the Russian narrative of “political repression” while other post-socialist states frame this period through the lens of “occupation.” The presentation questions whether this distinction stems from the nature of Central Asian elites, who were neither leaders of resistance nor descendants of émigrés, but rather a continuation of the Soviet-era political class. These elites may seek to portray their nations as victims of repression—viewed almost as a natural disaster—while absolving themselves of any responsibility for past atrocities. Another key issue discussed is how museums contribute into making this difficult Soviet heritage meaningful for Central Asian nations. In Russia, the concept of repression is generally confined to the Stalinist era. However, Central Asian museum exhibits often extend it to encompass their entire national histories, including the Khan rule or the state of Khorezm. This interpretation allows repression to serve as an overarching narrative for various forms of national suffering, from famines to anti-corruption trials. In some cases, museum exhibits even incorporate neutral or positive aspects of national history, signaling an effort to claim both the triumphs and tragedies of the past. The research is based on direct observation of museum exhibits, as well as expert and visitor interviews conducted on-site.

Author

• Anastasia Mitrofanova