This is a sad chapter in history that must be remembered to avoid repetition. The terrible repressions of the Bolsheviks left deep wounds in the people of Mongolia, plunging them into suffering.
“The music video of Mongolian artist ThunderZ for the song ‘Tengri: Gegeen’ has become a real event in Mongolia, showcasing one of the darkest periods in its history — the ‘Great Repressions’,” notes the publication InsideMongolia.
This song is about dark times when the Mongols endured unimaginable suffering due to the Bolshevik repressions.
🎥 The video depicts a tragic love story between a Buddhist monk and a woman during an era when monks were forbidden to love and start families. Their attempt to escape ends in horror: the monk is captured and burned alive. This story reflects the harsh reality of Mongolia from 1920 to 1990, when the state became a true machine for the destruction of its people.
🙅Mongolia: A country free from the death penalty
It is important to note that Mongolia abolished the death penalty in 2012, a decision that stemmed from the bitter experience gained during the Great Repression. Under years of Soviet intervention, the government conducted mass arrests and executions, killing more than 37,000 people, which was a tremendous loss for a population of 800,000. The repressions particularly harshly affected Buddhist monks.
More than 700 monasteries were destroyed.
Over 17,000 monks were persecuted.
About 14,000 monks were executed.
In total, 10.9% of the adult male population of Mongolia and nearly 5% of the entire population of the country were affected by these repressions.
👇Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repressions
Since 1997, September 10 has been observed in Mongolia as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repressions. On this day, there is a national reflection dedicated to the memory of those who perished in one of the darkest chapters of Mongolia's history, as well as gratitude is expressed to the families who continue to preserve their memory.
✍️Inscriptions in memory of the victims
The following words are engraved on the monument:
In those years, the burning faith was destroyed,
And brave hearts were torn apart.
May the years of horrors and sufferings
Never fade from the memory of the Mongolian people.
On the inner side of the monument, there is an inscription “No death penalty.” The question of restoring the death penalty for serious crimes continues to spark debates among Mongolians. However, this memorial serves as a reminder that the government must not repeat the mistakes of the past and affirms Mongolia's commitment to protecting human rights and human dignity.
