On the evening of January 27, 2026, a solemn memorial ceremony dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day was held in the capital of Kazakhstan.
The event, which brought together representatives of diplomatic missions in Kazakhstan, government officials, representatives of religious communities, international organizations, and the public, was organized by the Embassy of the State of Israel, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue.
The ceremony was opened by Gulsana Kozhabay, Chair of the Board of the International Center for Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue. She briefly spoke about the significance of the event and introduced the distinguished guests.
The central moment of the ceremony was the address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yermek Kosherbayev, who read a special message from the Head of State, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The message emphasized that remembrance of the millions of victims of Nazism is a shared moral duty of humanity, and that Kazakhstan’s policy is consistently based on the principles of tolerance and the protection of human dignity.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Gideon Sa’ar, who arrived in Astana on an official visit, expressed gratitude to the people of Kazakhstan for their careful preservation of historical truth, openness, and support for the Jewish community of Kazakhstan during difficult times. He also highlighted the important lessons that the Jewish people have drawn from these tragic historical events.
On behalf of the international community, the message of the UN Secretary-General António Guterres was delivered by the UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa.
Guests were also presented with a video dedicated to the life and legacy of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, known as the “Messenger of Humanity,” whose work opposing the concept of indifference has left a profound impact on many generations.
The spiritual part of the ceremony continued with the Chief Rabbi of Kazakhstan, Yeshaya Elazar Cohen, who recited the memorial prayer El Malei Rachamim in memory of the six million Jews and all victims of Nazi persecution.
The ceremony concluded with a deeply symbolic act—the lighting of six memorial candles, each representing one million lives lost in the flames of the Holocaust. This moment, held in solemn silence, became a powerful visual expression of collective mourning and the determination of the international community to preserve the light of historical memory.
In the foyer of the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, guests were also able to view the photo exhibition “Yad Vashem,” presenting 14 personal stories reflecting the lives of people who faced the horrors of genocide.
The ceremony in Astana once again underscored the importance of Kazakhstan as a space for dialogue, centered on human dignity, memory, responsibility, and the rejection of hatred.
