On 3 September 2026, the Library of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a round table entitled “Poles in Kazakhstan: History and Memory,” dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the deportation of Poles to Kazakhstan.
The event was organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, the Sybir Memorial Museum, and the Ch. Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology.
The round table was moderated by Ziyabek Yermukhanovich Kabuldinov, Director General of the Ch. Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Michał Łabenda, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Republic of Poland in the Republic of Kazakhstan; Berik Abdygaliuly, Director of the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Janusz Marszalec, Deputy Director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk; and Dmitry Panto, Secretary of the Polish-Kazakh Historical Commission.
In his remarks, Michał Łabenda reflected on the tragic history of the deportation of Poles and highlighted the support extended to the displaced families by the Kazakh people. Despite enduring famine, political repression and other severe hardships themselves, Kazakh families shared food and clothing with the deportees and provided them with shelter. According to the diplomat, the memory of this solidarity holds a special place in the historical consciousness of the Polish people and contributes to the continued strengthening of friendly relations between Kazakhstan and Poland.
The academic programme featured presentations by Kazakhstani and Polish researchers. The speakers addressed the history of the deportations, the experiences of Polish families in Kazakhstan, the preservation of historical memory, and the study of archival sources.
Alongside the round table, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan opened the exhibition “Deported: The Fates of Poles and Their Families Deported to Kazakhstan.” The exhibition features personal documents, memoirs, photographs, and certificates confirming the rehabilitation of victims of political repression.
The event brought together Kazakhstani and international scholars, representatives of the diplomatic corps and government agencies, as well as members of the public.
Staff members of the Ch. Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology—Zhomart Zhenis, Dinara Sandybaeva, Nurbolat Abuov and Yelnur Yeshim—made an active contribution to the organisation and successful conduct of the round table.
The round table made an important contribution to preserving the memory of the tragic events of the past, strengthening academic dialogue, and further developing cooperation between Kazakhstan and Poland in the field of historical research.
