Archives of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan:
A Practical Overview

Archival affairs in Central Asia play a crucial role in advancing scholarly research, particularly in the post-Soviet space. In Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, archives are gradually introducing more means of support for academic research through digitization, international cooperation, and targeted programs. As of 2025, both countries demonstrate significant progress in modernizing their archival systems, making them more accessible to researchers.

Kazakhstan: The “Archive-2025” Program as a Driver of Research

Kazakhstan has an extensive network of more than 220 state archival institutions, including the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan (CSA RK) in Almaty, the National Archive (NARK) in Astana, and specialized repositories such as the Central State Archive of Film, Photo Documents and Sound Recordings (KFDZ). The cornerstone of current archival policy is the state program “Archive-2025,” launched in 2018 at the initiative of First President Nursultan Nazarbayev as part of his article “Seven Facets of the Great Steppe.” This seven-year initiative aims to conduct fundamental research in domestic and foreign archives—from antiquity to the present—in order to modernize historical consciousness and study the ethnogenesis, geography, and culture of the Great Steppe.

The program emphasizes search-and-research expeditions involving orientalists, historians, and archivists who work with archives in Russia, Europe, and Asia. By 2025, thousands of paleographic materials, written sources, maps, and artifacts have been collected and analyzed, enabling the reconstruction of Kazakh history. A notable recent event was the republican conference “Archive-2025: Archival Legacy” held on November 6, 2025, in Astana, organized by the National Archive under the Ministry of Culture and Information. It brought together experts to discuss digitization and comprehensive implementation plans for “Archive-2025.”

Archival research in Kazakhstan is rapidly digitizing: the CSA electronic archive provides access to digitized documents, while the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan engages in international cooperation, including recent exchanges with Uzbekistan and Iran (August 2025). In Almaty, the “Unified Archive of Electronic Documents” is being implemented, greatly facilitating access for genealogists and historians. These initiatives not only preserve heritage but also stimulate interdisciplinary research ranging from the history of independence to anthropology.

Uzbekistan: From Declassification to Digital Access

Uzbekistan’s archival system comprises 17 central archives and 86 regional branches managed by the “Uzarchive” Agency. Key institutions include the Central State Archive of the Republic of Uzbekistan (CSA RUz), the Central State Archive of Film, Photo and Audio Documents (CSA FFAD RUz), and the Central State Archive of Scientific-Technical and Medical Documentation (CSA STMD RUz), which hold materials on the Silk Road, the Soviet period, and independence.

In recent years, especially around the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War (2020), thousands of previously classified files were declassified—more than 600 pages from 264 storage units covering 1941–1945. This opened new avenues for studying the Uzbek people’s contribution to the war, including the creation of the dedicated website Muzey-Xotira with digitized materials.

While these developments have significantly enriched research opportunities, access to archival materials remains carefully regulated. Uzbek citizens can apply through One-Stop Public Service Centers, while foreigners must submit requests via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To apply, the request should be sent to the consular department of Uzbekistan in your country via the general email in free form, addressed to the consul. For example, in the United States:

Address: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: (202) 887-5300
Fax: (202) 293-6804
Email: info.washington@mfa.uz

To increase the chances of obtaining permission, it is best to submit the application in partnership with colleagues from Uzbekistan and to draft the request itself in Russian rather than English. Additionally, prepare the most comprehensive package of documents possible, including your CV and an abstract of your research, and try to specify as clearly as possible the materials and topics of interest.

Conclusion

Access to the Kazakhstani and Uzbekistani archives remains challenging, though it has improved significantly over time. Archival bureaucracy is still slow, but this is gradually changing with ongoing digitalization efforts. The emergence of digital collections has greatly expanded researchers’ ability to explore the archival holdings in these countries. Overall, these archives are valuable for studying Soviet history, although they still impose notable restrictions on access to documents from that period.

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