Museum of memory of victims of political persecution – exile in Dolinka village

The Museum of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression in the village of Dolinka is a unique scientific, educational, and cultural institution that comprehensively studies and promotes the history of Karlag (the Karaganda Corrective Labor Camp), which was a part of the repressive policies of the totalitarian system and the GULAG network in Kazakhstan. The museum stands as a vivid example of state policy aimed at honoring the victims of political repression and restoring historical justice.

The museum was established in 2001 by special order of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev. From 2001 to 2011, it was housed in the former clinic for Karlag personnel. In 2011, the museum was relocated to the former administrative building of the Karlag headquarters, constructed between 1933 and 1935 by thousands of prisoners. This building is now an important historical and architectural monument symbolizing the structure of the totalitarian system.

The total area of the museum is 3,326.6 square meters. Visitors have access to 20 exhibition halls located on two floors. The main exhibitions include:

1. "Famine in Kazakhstan" Hall - This hall presents archival materials, photographs, and eyewitness testimonies about the tragedy of the 1931-1933 mass famine, caused by forced collectivization and the seizure of food resources.

2. "History of the Creation and Operation of Karlag" Hall - Visitors are introduced to the origins of Karlag, its role in the GULAG system, administrative structure, and the first stages of the camp’s functioning.

3. "Economic Activity of Karlag" Hall - This section highlights the economic role of the camp, where the forced labor of prisoners was used in agriculture, construction, and industry. Materials about the farms, factories, and workshops operated by Karlag are on display.

4. "Women and Children in Karlag" Hall - This exhibition reveals the harsh fate of women and children held in the camp. The display includes women’s cells, children’s clothing and toys, letters, and personal belongings of imprisoned mothers.

5. "Forced Deportation of Peoples" Hall - This section reflects the tragedy of forced deportations during the 1930s-1950s, which brought Koreans, Germans, Poles, Chechens, Ingush, and other ethnic groups to Kazakhstan. Archival documents and photographs reveal their hardships and living conditions.

The museum’s exhibitions depict the social, political, and economic role of Karlag, the daily life of its prisoners, and the tragic stories of women and children interned there. They also explore the routine, forced labor, repression, and cultural aspects within the camp system.

The museum’s collection includes around 15,000 artifacts, with more than 6,000 authentic historical items, such as:

• personal belongings, letters, documents, and photographs of prisoners;

• tools and household items made in Karlag;

• works of applied and visual art created by inmates;

• Soviet propaganda items: flags, posters, busts;

• rare publications: the 1934 issue of the newspaper "Putyovka", the 1935 issue of "GanaGol" printed in Latin script;

• a prisoner’s diary written in Latin letters;

• rare artworks by repressed artists P.I. Rechensky, L.P. Andreyk, and L.E. Hamburger;

• household objects from the Kazakh material culture of the 1920s-1930s;

• embroidered towels, crafts, musical instruments made by prisoners;

• items manufactured by inmates in the Karlag repair-mechanical plant.

In the basement of the museum, a historically accurate reconstruction of an investigative detention facility has been created, including:

• a punishment cell (karzer),

• male and female prison cells,

• an investigator’s office,

• a torture chamber,

• interrogation and document processing rooms.

These areas are populated with wax figures of prisoners, investigators, and guards to provide visitors with a deeply immersive experience of the era.

A Scientific Center for the Study of Political Repression operates within the museum, working on the systematization of archival documents, publication of research by Kazakh historians, and conducting studies in national archives.

The museum regularly hosts public and educational events such as:

• meetings with former Karlag prisoners and descendants of repression victims;

• memorial rallies, conferences, and round tables for the Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repression and Famine;

• themed lessons and guided tours for school and university students;

• the "Night at the Museum" event with theatrical excursions held annually on May 18.

The Museum of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression in Dolinka is not only a center for historical research of the totalitarian past but also a spiritual beacon that preserves the collective memory of Kazakhstan’s tragic history. It fulfills an essential mission - fostering a just and humane understanding of the past, educating the public, and instilling patriotism grounded in historical truth.