This meeting marked another stage in the dynamic and growing academic collaboration between Poland and Kazakhstan, focusing on the study of their shared historical heritage, with particular attention to the experiences of Poles deported to Kazakhstan during the Second World War. Participants included representatives of the Chokan Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, the Sybir Memorial Museum, the Museum of the Second World War, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Almaty, as well as Kazakh scholars, archivists, and doctoral students specializing in historical research.
The highlight of the session was the presentation of newly discovered archival documents concerning Poles repressed in Kazakhstan. The materials were handed over to the Polish side by Professor Ziyabek Kabuldinov, Director of the Chokan Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology and Co-Chair of the Commission. The Commission also decided to compile research materials on Kazakh prisoners of war held in German camps in Poland during the Second World War and emphasized the importance of involving young Polish researchers in projects related to Kazakh history and culture.
Professor Wojciech Śleszyński, PhD, Director of the Sybir Memorial Museum and Co-Chair of the Commission, presented the prospects for further Polish–Kazakh cooperation in the fields of historical research and museology, emphasizing the importance of joint initiatives in preserving the memory of difficult moments in history. The participants were welcomed by Dariusz Szewczyk, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Almaty. Dr Dmitrij Panto, Secretary of the Commission and Research Fellow at the Museum of the Second World War, discussed the latest findings on the deportation and experiences of Poles in Kazakhstan between 1936 and 1946.
The Kazakh side gave a series of insightful presentations, focusing primarily on the historical experiences of Poles in Kazakhstan. Among the speakers were Professor Ziyabek Kabuldinov, Professor Azhagan Burkitbay (Deputy Director of the Institute of State History at the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan), Dr Kairat Alimgazinov (Deputy Director of the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan), Dr Zhomart Simtikov (Head of the Department of Political and Social-Philosophical Sciences at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University), Professor Sydyknazarov Mukhit-Ardager (Director of the Institute for Modern Studies at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University), Dr Nadezhda Kubik (Deputy Director of the State Archive of the Pavlodar Region) and Dr habil. Lyudmila Grivennaya (Head of the Department of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan at M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University), among others.
During the proceedings, Dr Dmitrij Panto was awarded the title of Honorary Professor by the Chokan Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, presented by Professor Ziyabek Kabuldinov.
The fifth meeting of the Polish–Kazakh Historical Commission reaffirmed the crucial role of joint historical research in building bridges and fostering mutual understanding between Poland and Kazakhstan. Thanks to the commitment of institutions such as the Sybir Memorial Museum, the Museum of the Second World War, and the Chokan Valikhanov Institute of History and Ethnology, it remains possible to further deepen our understanding of Sybir’s history and the shared heritage of both nations.
The sixth meeting of the Polish–Kazakh Historical Commission is scheduled to be held in June 2026 in Białystok and Gdańsk.
