While Russia continues to place emphasis on celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany 81 years ago, the importance of the holiday is diminishing in much of the former Soviet space.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was one of only two Central Asian heads of state present when Russia held its annual commemoration of victory in World War II. While Tokayev’s participation in the much-reduced May 9 parade demonstrates continued diplomatic support for Moscow, commemorations in Kazakhstan continue to move away from their Soviet roots.
This year, no military parades took place in Kazakhstan while the president was in Moscow. Instead, the authorities laid flowers to the Defenders of the Fatherland memorial in Astana. Meanwhile, a local version of the Immortal Regiment march, where families parade with portraits of loved ones who fought in World War II, took place in the southern city of Almaty after questions over its approval.
Although Soviet flags were still visible during the march – now known as Batyrlarga Tagzym, Tribute to Heroes – they were greatly outnumbered by Kazakh flags and ribbons. The authorities further reinforced this change by distributing ribbons in Kazakhstan. national colors turquoise and yellow before the start of the walk.
In recent years, Kazakhstan has made numerous efforts to reshape the national significance of the holiday, downplaying Soviet symbolism during celebrations across the country. This was already evident during last year’s parade in Astana, where Soviet memorabilia was almost entirely replaced by displays of Kazakh nationalism.
This trend reflects not only changing historical memory, but also Kazakhstan’s broader pragmatic effort to strengthen ties with foreign partners and position itself more clearly as an independent actor on the international stage.
The last Victory Day parade in Kazakhstan took place in Almaty in 2019. It was also the last official march of the country’s Immortal Regiment, with Soviet flags and the traditional black and orange St. George ribbons. Kazakh military personnel also participated, walk and ride through cheering crowds.
In the years since, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted public commemorations. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Kazakhstan has further changed its approach to Victory Day remembrance.
The authorities decided to stop the marches of the Immortal Regiment and instead promoted the digitized memory of Kazakh veterans of World War II through the Tribute to Heroes Campaign. Kazakhstan also refrained from holding a military parade until the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe last year. Even then, the parade in Astana took place not on May 9, but on May 7. Defender of the Fatherland Day – celebrating the armed forces of Kazakhstan rather than the Soviet victory.
Without a physical location to commemorate veterans’ loved ones, several groups have pushed to restart Immortal Regiment marches in 2025 under the slogan Tribute to the Heroes. Although initially banned, the marches in Almaty and several other cities were only approved days before May 9 of last year.
However, the continuation of the march was far from guaranteed this year.
While Immortal Regiment events remain popular throughout the former Soviet Union, Kazakhstan is among the post-Soviet states actively trying to reshape the celebration. This year again, the mayor of Almaty I waited until May 7 before approving the march.
During the procession itself, the overt Soviet nostalgia appeared visibly diminished. At one point, a participant shouted: “Glory to the Red Army”, only to be immediately booed by a large part of the surrounding crowd.
Although its form was changed, the Almaty march nevertheless became the most important event of the holiday season, just like last year’s military parade. was not repeated May 7 or 9. Instead, a beach small cultural events were held across the country, from national equestrian games to Kazakh music performances.
Although he was in Moscow that day, Tokayev also published his congratulations to the nation on May 9. His message notably avoided Soviet nostalgia, instead emphasizing the courage of Kazakhs and expressing hope that the Kazakh flag “[a]still rises under our clear skies, symbolizing the progressive and peaceful aspirations of our people.
Although this shift has accelerated since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is also part of Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to deepen its international relations, particularly with partners such as the EU and the United States. Recent years have brought significant trade agreements and growing diplomatic engagement. By moving away from a memory centered on the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan signals its ambition to define itself on its own terms, and no longer as a state primarily shaped by its former imperial leader and closest historical collaborator.
Soviet memory remains a visible part of Victory Day commemorations, but Kazakhstan is increasingly taking deliberate steps to distance itself from this legacy. It remains to be seen whether this symbolic transformation will further strengthen the country’s international positioning, but it is becoming difficult to ignore the direction in which the country is heading.