Repression Victims’ Day
Observed annually on the 10th of September in Mongolia, Repression Victim’s Day is a day that commemorates the brutal political persecution that happened in this country on this date in 1937. The repressions at this time were an extension of the Stalinist purges that were also occurring at the same time in the Soviet Union and known as the Great Purge.
Mongolia (Observance)The purge in Mongolia would last two years and would result in the deaths of approximately 35,000 Mongolians. It was an effort to eliminate political opponents and consolidate political power in the country. This day is now a public holiday in Mongolia and is observed with a number of different events.
The History Of Repression Victim’s Day
Between 1937 and 1939, there was a heightened period of persecution and political violence in Mongolia. These were direct extensions of the Stalinist purges that were occurring at the same time in the Soviet Union. The People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs (NKVD), under the alleged direction of Mongolia’s de-facto leader Khorloogiin Choibalsan.
Thousands of people and organizations who were perceived as threats to the Mongolian Revolution were persecuted. During this time, anywhere from 20,000 to 35,000 people were executed during this time. That’s approximately 3-5% of the country’s population at that time. This holiday was created in September of 1995 and has been celebrated ever since.
Observing Repression Victim’s Day
This holiday begins when Mongolia’s President, Speaker of Parliament, and Prime Minister lay a wreath on the Monument of Victims of the Political Repression. It’s also a day that’s observed with several other ceremonies as well.
It’s a holiday for all Mongolians to think about the terrible toll of political repressions so that something like this doesn’t happen again in the future. On social media, the hashtag #RepressionVictimsDay is often used to spread the word about this holiday around the world.
Mongolia (Observance)
