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Paper abstract:

The study focuses on analyzing the exceptional cases of Kalmyk special settlers in Alma-Ata oblast of the Kazakh SSR who were granted release from the special settlement regime between 1944 and 1953. By highlighting the unique nature of the Kalmyks contingent in this region, the study challenges the prevailing scholarly understanding that assumes all Kalmyks, as representatives of the punished people, were uniformly subjected to exile and none were granted freedom from the special settlements, regardless of their exceptional merits.

During the special settlement regime, many Kalmyks perceived Alma-Ata oblast as a promising destination for a better life compared to other exile locations. This perception was based on a strategic assessment of survival, where the anthropological similarities with the local population, the Kazakhs, played a crucial role. The shared physical resemblance became a valuable asset as it allowed the Kalmyks to avoid immediate identification as special settlers, thereby mitigating the hostility experienced in Siberia. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that this survival strategy was influenced by various complex factors, including language proficiency.

Although the oblast was not initially designated as an exile location for the Kalmyks, it eventually became the second-largest concentration area for Kalmyk special settlers in the Kazakh SSR. Therefore, by highlighting the presence of three distinct groups based on the outcomes and circumstances of the Kalmyk special settlers in the oblast it emphasizes the significance of avoiding generalizations in the consideration of experiences of the Kalmyks exiled to the special settlements in different places. In addition, within these three groups in the oblast, further categorization is possible based on the reasons for permission to change their places of settlement.

However, a common aspect among all Kalmyk special settlers in Alma-Ata oblast is a deliberate choice of this certain oblast as the place of special settlement, which formed part of their survival strategy. As a result, a Kalmyk contingent emerged in the oblast, distinguished by high levels of literacy, a strong commitment to Soviet values, and notable accomplishments within the regime.

The deliberate exclusion of certain Kalmyks within Alma-Ata oblast adds an additional layer of interest to the study. Moreover, the fact that some Kalmyks in the Alma-Ata oblast were granted release from the special settlement further emphasizes the exclusivity of this particular group and offers valuable insights into the nature of the special settlement system implemented by the Stalinist regime.