Uzbekistan commemorates victims of Soviet political repression

Uzbekistan observed the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repression on August 31, honoring those imprisoned, exiled, or executed during the Soviet era for perceived anti-regime activities. The memorial ceremony took place at the Martyrs' Memorial in Tashkent, attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, government officials, religious leaders, and intellectuals.

Official data indicates that between 1937 and 1953, Soviet political repression in Uzbekistan resulted in over 100,000 people being imprisoned or exiled, with approximately 13,000 executions. The purges specifically targeted the intelligentsia, including prominent figures of the Jadidism movement—a group advocating for educational and cultural modernization in Central Asia. Notable victims included literary figures such as Abdullah Kadiri, Munavvar Qari, Abdurauf Fitrat, and Abdulhamid Sulaymon Qolpan.