Kazakhstan Celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day with Military Parade

Astana, Kazakhstan – On May 7, Kazakhstan celebrated Defender of the Fatherland Day, a national holiday established in 2012. The central event of the day was a military parade held in the capital, Astana’s Tauelsyzdyk Square. This parade was particularly notable for two reasons. Firstly, it marked the first such event since 2018, which had been canceled in previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and budget constraints. Secondly, the government linked the parade not just to Defender of the Fatherland Day but also to the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a significant event for Kazakhstan and Russia.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev opened the parade, emphasizing the impact of the Great Patriotic War on humanity, including Kazakhstan. He noted that over 1.2 million Kazakh citizens served at the front during the war, half of whom heroically lost their lives. “The war brought only grief and loss, while peace is priceless,” said Tokayev. He stressed the importance of conveying the truth about the war to all Kazakh citizens. “Without truth, it is impossible to understand the value of peace,” he added.

The parade included symbolic gestures aimed at Russia, where Tokayev is scheduled to visit on May 9. Analysts observed that Kazakhstan aims to present itself as a key player in the Great Patriotic War, independent of Soviet narratives. During his speech, Tokayev specifically mentioned Kazakh war heroes, and soldiers dressed in 1940s military uniforms carried the Victory Banner of the 150th Rifle Division, credited with being the first to raise a flag over the Reichstag.

Political expert Ruslan Tusupbekov remarked on Tokayev’s diplomatic tone, highlighting the continuity of Kazakhstan’s historical context. However, Gulnar Bazhkenova, editor of the independent outlet Orda, expressed a contrasting view, asserting that the presence of Russian military equipment at the parade suggests Kazakhstan aligns more closely with Russia’s narrative than it claims. She noted that Tokayev announced a forthcoming procession named “Batyrlarga Tagzym,” honoring Kazakh veterans, which had previously been a contentious topic.

Bigeldy Gabdullin, president of the Kazakh PEN Club, remarked on the importance of recognizing Kazakhstan’s sovereignty in deciding on military parades. He emphasized that May 9 is a sacred day, connecting it to a collective victory against fascism, and noted that the timing of the parade was not problematic.