On October 5, 2026, the State Museum of Memory of the Victims of Repression under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in cooperation with the “Shahidlar Xotirasi” Public Foundation, held a commemorative event at the “Oqil Ota” Cemetery in the Yunusabad District of Tashkent. The event was organized within the framework of the first week of October, designated as “the Week of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repression,” in accordance with Resolution No. PQ-270 of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated July 19, 2024, and Resolution No. 691 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated November 4, 2025.
The fact that this commemorative week is observed during the first week of October is no coincidence. The repressions of 1937–1938 remain among the most tragic chapters in the history of Uzbekistan.
Between October 4 and 16, 1938, verdicts were pronounced against 507 Uzbek political prisoners during visiting sessions of the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR. The most prominent among them were executed, while the others were sentenced to various terms of exile or imprisonment.
Overall, more than 40,000 people were subjected to repression in Uzbekistan between 1934 and 1938. Of these, 730 were executed after being branded “enemies of the people.” The majority were executed on October 4, 1938. The most horrifying aspect of these events is that the verdicts against them were dated October 5.
The commemorative event began with a visit to the “Oqil Ota” Cemetery. During the visit, museum staff were provided with information about this historic site. The “Oqil Ota” Cemetery dates back to the 18th century and was included in the list of historical monuments protected by UNESCO in 2008.
During the visit, the museum team also carried out improvement and cleaning work within the cemetery grounds. Afterwards, they paid their respects at the symbolic grave erected in memory of the victims of the “Great Terror” of 1937–1938, commemorating those who lost their lives during the repressions.
The gathering concluded with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, prayers and supplications dedicated to the souls of the victims.
