SCIENTIFIC SEMINAR ON LEGIONNAIRE-MUSICIAN ALIM ALMAT

On May 6, 2026, the Department of Oriental Studies of the Faculty of International Relations, together with the Scientific Library, organized a scientific seminar entitled “Alim Almat and Unrehabilitated Legionnaires.” As part of the event, a monograph by Professor K. M. Ilyasova of the Department of Oriental Studies, a scholar specializing in the Alash movement, was presented under the title “Fate as History: The Daily Life of Violinist Alim Almat.”

The seminar was attended by public and state figures, scholars, art historians, descendants of Alim Almat, and young researchers. They discussed issues related to political repression, World War II, the Turkestan Legion, judicial and investigative processes, and the question of rehabilitation within the broader field of biographical studies. Among the speakers were Doctor of Political Sciences and Professor A. Bakirov; D. Qamzabekuly, General Director of Qazaq Gazetteri Media Holding; Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor B. Ayagan; N. S. Pusyrmanov, Director of the Institute of State History; Doctor of Art History D. Zhumabekova; Doctor of Philology and Professor S. Negimov; Doctor of Historical Sciences and Professor T. Qayyrken; Doctor of Philology and Professor A. Sharip; Candidate of Historical Sciences and Associate Professor A. Alpeisov; opera singer, Professor K.Myrzhykbai, local historian B. Myrzabai from Aktobe; and Alim Almat’s descendants R. Rakhiuly and N. Abdolla. They shared many fascinating facts about Alim Almat, the first Kazakh violinist, a prisoner of war, and a musician who has not yet been officially rehabilitated.

Participants also viewed a book exhibition dedicated to the legionnaire-musician Alim Almat, as well as video materials prepared by third-year student M. Yesbol and second-year student A. Omarova. The seminar was moderated by Associate Professor Akzhigit Alibekuly of the Department of Oriental Studies.