Museum of Victims of Political Repression

In the heart of Tashkent, a poignant tribute to the resilience of the human spirit stands amidst a tranquil park—the Museum of Victims of Political Repression. This solemn museum, inaugurated on August 31, 2002, has since become a cornerstone of national remembrance, with the date itself being commemorated as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions. As a unique institution within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), it encapsulates the somber chapters of Uzbekistan’s history, spanning from the mid-19th century to the latter half of the 20th century.

The museum’s narrative begins in the 1860s, amid the tumult of the Russian Empire’s colonial endeavors in Central Asia. It was a time when the indigenous people valiantly resisted the encroachment on their freedom and homeland. The aftermath of the October Revolution brought further turmoil, as the Soviet regime sought to quash any semblance of dissent, obliterating the nation’s intellectual elite who yearned for sovereignty, as well as those merely suspected of subversion. The era of Stalin’s rule is etched in history as Uzbekistan’s most harrowing epoch, with countless individuals arrested, many executed, and others perishing in labor camps, branded as enemies of the state. The 1980s were marked by the infamous «Cotton case,» which saw over 800 criminal cases launched against individuals accused of failing to meet cotton production quotas.

The Museum of Victims of Political Repression serves as a custodian of memory, housing an array of exhibits that include photographs, documents, and the personal effects of those who suffered under repressive regimes. Visitors are confronted with the stark realities of the past through detailed maquettes of concentration camps and prisons, and the chilling symbol of oppression—a «prison van» used by the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs to transport those accused of treason.

Situated within the «Shakhidlar Hotirasi» memorial complex—meaning «In Memory of Victims of Repression»—the museum’s location opposite the Tashkent TV tower is historically significant. During the tower’s construction, mass graves were unearthed, revealing the site’s grim past as a place of expedited trials for the repressed during the early 20th century.

Address: Amir Temur str., Tashkent, (near the Tashkent TV Tower)
Telephone: (998 71) 244-73-31, 212-42-46
Open hours: 9:00 AM to 05:00PM
Day off: Monday