At the initiative of the Sybir Memorial Museum and the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, the Forum of the Polish–Kazakh and Polish–Kyrgyz Historical Commissions was organised as part of the Shared Memory – Shared Future initiative. The aim of both Commissions is to search for, study and make accessible documents concerning Poles and Polish citizens who found themselves in Central Asia as exiles, soldiers or settlers. The Forum, attended by numerous scholars as well as representatives of universities and museums, provided a unique platform for historical dialogue and for academic and cultural cooperation between Poland, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
During the Forum, the key achievements of both Commissions were presented, including:
– the acquisition of hundreds of new archival documents concerning Poles and Polish citizens in Central Asia,
– the launch of a dedicated online portal focused on cemeteries of Polish citizens in Central Asia — Polish Cemeteries in Uzbekistan,
– scholarly and popular science publications, as well as joint exhibition and educational projects,
– the development of academic and student exchanges and the ongoing exchange of knowledge among researchers,
– plans to launch an international platform collecting archival materials from the region.
The most significant outcome of the Gdańsk deliberations was the identification of new directions for cooperation in the coming years. These include acquiring further archival materials, sharing experience in research and the popularisation of history, developing joint research programmes and websites, continuing the digitisation of archives, and undertaking further commemorative initiatives dedicated to the difficult shared history of Poland, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
“In the coming months, we will continue to acquire and make available further unique documents from the region. In February 2026, we will also present an online platform where these materials will be accessible,” emphasised Prof. Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum.
The organisers stressed that the Historical Commissions with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan represent one of the best examples of long-term academic and cultural cooperation between Poland and the countries of Central Asia, as well as of building lasting bridges between nations. The meeting in Gdańsk strengthened ties among the three countries, ensuring that the adopted action plan for the coming years will make this cooperation even more fruitful.
The Forum was held under the academic patronage of Prof. Wojciech Śleszyński, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum, Prof. Ziyabek Kabuldinov (Kazakhstan), and Prof. Alymbek Kushubekov (Kyrgyzstan).
