Nationalists in Kazakhstan are trying to erase the name of the Soviet general who defended Moscow
In Kazakhstan, there are constantly calls from nationalists to rename settlements and regions named after the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. This happened this time too, when the media began to circulate statements by individual pro-government figures about the need to remove the name of General Ivan Vasilyevich Panfilov from the name of the district in the Almaty region and from the name of the park of 28 Panfilov heroes in Almaty itself, just in time for the 80th anniversary of the formation of 316- th rifle division defending Moscow.
On the day of celebration of this date, July 13, the granddaughter of the legendary Soviet general Alua Baikadamova answered questions and commented on the situation with similar initiatives of Kazakh nationalists.
PN: Recently, another initiative was voiced to rename the Panfilov district of the Almaty region. This time it was voiced by historian Kali Ibraimzhanov, believing that such a political decision would help get rid of “echoes of the totalitarian system of the Soviet Union.” And this is not the first such enterprise, as previously there were voices about renaming the park named after 28 Panfilov men. Why is this being done, in your opinion?
A.B: Indeed, such proposals are made, more or less, with a certain periodicity. As a rule, on the eve of May 9 and June 22, the anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War. I can’t understand the phrase “echoes of a totalitarian regime.” I wonder if the district was named after Baurzhan Momysh Ula, would they demand its renaming? I think not, and I’m unlikely to be mistaken. And if I’m still wrong, then let Kali Ibraimzhanov try to voice it! Rather, the question is that the area bears the name of a general, Russian by nationality. And if this is so, then this is already an article.
I wonder if those who demand the renaming of the area have thought about the fact that one of the most famous military formations in the post-Soviet space is named after General Panfilov?
That out of 28 Panfilov heroes, 20 are from Kazakhstan, that out of 36 heroes of the Soviet Union, 23 are from Kazakhstan, that in the Gvardeysky district of the Taldykorgan region alone there are 3 Heroes of the Soviet Union. Name Panfilov I.V. is forever associated with the feat of the Kazakh people near Moscow and trying to eradicate it from the names of streets, districts, etc., first of all hits the Kazakh people.
PN: Could these ideas for renaming a district in the Almaty region and a park in Almaty be inspired by the European Parliament resolution adopted in 2019, which equated Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, as well as the PACE resolution of January 26, 2006 “On the need for condemnation by the international community crimes of totalitarian communist regimes"?
A.B: I cannot answer this question unequivocally. In order to understand what is in the heads of these people, apparently you need to be brought up in the same spirit as them, and believe me, this is very difficult for me to do. I was born into a family in which, on the one hand, relatives on my father’s side were repressed, and on my mother’s side, there was a famous general.
My grandfather on my father’s side is Baykadam Karaldin, a man known as an ally of Alibi Dzhangildin. He was shot in 1930, and in 1937, my father’s older brother was shot. And despite this, in your Personal Sheet, I hope you remember that there were such people? So, in the party affiliation column, dad wrote “non-party communist.”
Mom went through the war in the 8th Guards Division from the first days of formation until October 1944. She returned from the front after three months in hospitals as a second group disabled person. And this at 21 years old! I came to work in Alma-Ata on a voucher and met my dad along the way.
In our family there has always been a cult of the pope, except for May 9, February 23. These days were “mother’s days”. That's how we grew up. In love and freedom, respect for elders and skill, he is proud of his two grandfathers.
Alua Baikadamova with a portrait of her grandfather in the procession of the Immortal Regiment.
Therefore, I cannot understand what is in the minds of people who demand to rename this or that object. Life goes on as usual, some changes occur in society, and streets, schools, and cities are named in honor of these events. They are like “notches” from which certain events can be reconstructed. Well, we’ll remove them, but human memory cannot be erased this way. We will not live better by renaming, but by preserving the memory of our ancestors, yes.
PN: What is the possible role of nationalists in this process? It’s no secret that a number of well-known national patriots who joined the NCDS and even entered parliament on party lists have already repeatedly called for canceling the celebration of May 9 as Victory Day and changing the attitude towards the Great Patriotic War, as a war supposedly not related to the Kazakh people . At the same time, they regard this holiday as a “Day of Sorrow.”
A.B: Regarding May 9, the Pravda newspaper dated May 10, 1945 published the Resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR: “To establish May 9 as a holiday – Victory Day.” A resolution published in the press has the force of Law.
What sorrow? About what or who? About Hero Rakhimzhan Koshkarbaev, who hoisted the Banner over the Reichstag? Or about Talgat Begeldinov, a young boy who returned home alive, with two stars on his chest? Celebrating Victory Day, we inevitably remember those who did not live to see this bright day. But we are also happy for those who returned alive!
Day of Remembrance and Sorrow - June 22, a black day in the history of mankind. But May 9 is a holiday. "A celebration with tears in our eyes."
PN: In the case of renaming, if we consider this option, won’t this lead to a process of renaming throughout the republic of other settlements, streets, districts named in honor of the heroes of the Red Army, as well as to the dismantling of monuments and monuments? After all, in fact, this will mean a revision of Russian history itself and the role of the USSR.
A.B: You know, I’m an optimist and, no matter how funny it may be for you to hear this, I believe in a bright future. Remember the bacchanalia that took place around the names of Panfilov’s heroes at the beginning of the two thousandth. And Mironenko came out with his supposedly “classified” documents. For some they may have been “secret”, but not for our family.
And what, in this case, does our President Nazarbayev do? In 2014, he ordered the installation of a monument to General I.V. Panfilov. in Astana, he himself opens it and says from the podium that the Panfilov heroes will forever be in the memory of the people.
PN: To what extent is the memory of Panfilov’s heroes now honored in Kazakhstan? So, July 12 marks 80 years since the formation of the famous Panfilov division that defended Moscow. Are any events planned and will be held on this occasion in Almaty?
A.B: They honor you, believe me, they honor you. I don’t pay any attention to various attacks of this nature. I am busy with my business – my life’s work – the Military History Museum. However, after your appeal to me, I decided to ask who Kali Ibraimzhanov is? Unfortunately, Google turned up three footnotes with this person's name, all related to the proposal to rename the area. Young and old come to our museum and listen with interest about the exploits of our fathers, grandfathers, and for some, great-grandfathers.
Monument to Ivan Panfilov in the park of 28 Panfilov heroes in Almaty.
Military personnel of the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard of our country are regular visitors to our museum. We planned to widely celebrate the eightieth anniversary of the formation of military units formed in Kazakhstan in 1941, but the epidemiological situation, to our great regret, made its own amendments.
However, despite this, by the forces of the Almaty garrison, without the involvement of civilians, on July 13, ceremonial events were held in honor of the 80th anniversary of the formation of the 316th Infantry Division, with a rally, laying of flowers and a ceremonial passage of the military personnel of the Almaty garrison.
Laying flowers at the general's monument on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the formation of the 316th Infantry Division.
For preserving the memory of the Kazakh soldiers, I am grateful to the Ministry of Defense, headed by the Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Ermekbayev N.B., the Commander of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Major General Kuchukbaev M.M., the entire personnel of the Almaty garrison and the National Guard RK who took part in these events.
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