The Museum of memory of victims of political repression, which also opened in the village of Dolinka in 2002, contains facts about the tragic fate of thousands of prisoners who suffered from the policies of the Soviet regime. It is located in the Karaganda region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, approximately 45 km from Karaganda.
The Karaganda laborand Correctional camp (abbreviated as Karlag) was founded in 1931. It was one of the largest camps in the USSR, the territory of which stretched for several hundred kilometers. People who used to live in the area were forcibly relocated. The Karlag department of the Kh. A. Commissariat of Internal Affairsның is located in the village of Dolinka, where an administrative building was erected for this purpose using the labor of prisoners. It was a two-story building with columnsеді, which gave it a magnificent view.
After the camp was liquidated, the building was used by various organizations — an agricultural technical school, a children's sanatorium, and a production association. Since 2010, it houses a museum with documents, photographs and personal belongings of prisoners.
The museum's exhibits tell not only about Karlag, but also about the events that preceded its appearance. The topic of forced collectivization, confiscation of property and their consequences is touched upon, with an indication of everyday objects, everyday life of Kazakhs.
One of the halls is dedicated to the history of the Karaganda camp, the documents introduce the features of the repressive policy of the Soviet Union and the activities of the city of ULAG.
Many halls of the museum reflect the structure of the camp, the conditions of detention of prisoners, the true nature of their life and profession. Here you can get an idea of the agenda of the repressed, their responsibilities and the huge work that they have done to complete all their tasks.
ТFor the families of the victims-women and childrenжwho were punished. Theycould not cope with harsh situations, violence, hard work, and the death rate was high, especially among children. Next to the museum is the Mummy cemetery, which has become a memorial. Women and children of many victims of repression are buried hereі.
Among the repressed were many representatives of the intelligentsia. Scientists, artists, historians,and journalists were also held captive hereді. The laboratory where the camp scientists conducted their research was reorganized. One of the halls displays works by artists who were prisoners of Karlag. The personal exhibition is dedicated to people and their destinies туралы естеліктерді, contains photos and documents that preserve memories of many repressed people.
In the basement of the museum there is an exhibition that tells about the pre-investigation and investigative period of prisoners.
In the shared cells of men and womenғы, the situation with men was restored. Plaster-of-wax figures of tortured, weak-willed tyrants realistically convey the suffering of innocent people who lived in ascetic conditions.
The isolation ward, punishment cell, division pit, Torture chamberkaldyrady installations make a heavy impression. Political prisoners who were considered particularly dangerous from the point of view of the authoritieswere shot, as the caption of the executed person remindsus.
Also in the museum you can see the situation in the offices of the head of the department, the investigator,the room where they photographed prisonersand conducted an examination of fingerprints.
Even though the burden they puton their headswas very heavy, they found the strength to live and givethe radiance of their lives. Prisoners were engaged in creative activities, studied, held exhibitions and concerts, whichcan be seen in museum exhibits.