Kazakhstan's political repression in the first half of the 20th century: characteristics of the legislative mechanism governing the use of repressive measures

Abstract

The research conducted enabled us to draw the conclusion that the mechanism of political repression during the studied period encompassed a range of legal and non- egal strategies, as well as organizational and social measures. These were implemented with the objective of attaining political objectives, safeguarding the exist-ing structure, ensuring state security, and upholding the unity of the totalitarian union state. The time under examination witnessed the establishment of both public and confidential departmental regulations, which ef-fectively safeguarded the legitimacy of political repression. These regulations comprehensively governed the whole process of implementing punitive actions. Simultaneously, the ruling bodies of the united communist party held exclusive authority in determining all significant decisions of state entities. The establishment of organizational and legal frameworks for political repression in the USSR was a fundamental component of the totalitarian control structure. This framework facilitated extensive human rights abuses and had a lasting impact on the historical trajectory of the Soviet population over an extended period. The examination of his-torical events of this nature  enables us to comprehend the workings of totalitarian regimes and underscore the significance of the rule of law and autonomous institutions in safeguarding civil rights and liberties.