100 YEARS OF THE UNIFICATION OF KAZAKH LANDS AND THE RETURN OF THE NAME "KAZAKH"

On April 15, 2025, within the framework of the "Sustainable Development Goals – Quality Education" program, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, together with the Department of History of Kazakhstan of the Faculty of History, the Committee on Archives, Documentation and Book Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the RSE "Central State Archive," held a republican scientific and practical conference "100 Years of the Unification of Kazakh Lands and the Return of the Name "Kazakh"," dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the completion of the unification of Kazakh lands within a single republic and the 100th anniversary of the return of the historical name to the Kazakh people.  

The conference began with an opening speech by the moderator – Dean of the Faculty of History, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor D.S. Baigunakov. The conference featured presentations by scholars: Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Abdirov M.Zh., Academician of the NAS RK, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Karibayev B.B., Director of the CSA RK, Candidate of Historical Sciences, Associate Professor Shildebay S.K., Honored Worker of Public Education of the KR, Head of the Department of History of Kyrgyzstan and Foreign East of Bishkek State University named after Saparaliev D.B., Candidate of Historical Sciences, Professor K. Karasayeva, Candidate of Historical Sciences Koishybayev B.O., Senior Researcher of the Eurasian Research Institute of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University and the CSA RK Zhunisbayev A.A., Doctor of Historical Sciences Tursun Kh.M., Professor of the Khoja Akhmet Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University; Dyusembekova Zhadyra – Senior Lecturer of the Zhumabek Tashenov University, Nurmukhanova Zh.Zh. – Candidate of Historical Sciences, Excellent Worker of Archival Affairs, as well as other scholars: Nurpeis T.A., Noyanov E.N., Arynov Zh.M.

The speakers noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the completion of the unification of Kazakh lands within a single republic, which during the period of colonial oppression by Tsarist Russia were divided between three governor-generalships, and during the Soviet era were part of several republics.

In addition, the 100th anniversary of the return of the historical name to the Kazakh people was mentioned, which during the Russian Empire was "Kyrgyz-Kaisak," and in the early years of Soviet power was officially changed to "Kyrgyz," as well as the 100th anniversary of the renaming of Ak-Mechet to Kyzylorda.

In the lead-up to the conference, the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan organized an exhibition of original archival documents from its collections. The conference was attended by historians, students, undergraduates, doctoral students, and media representatives, as well as all citizens interested in this topic."