In 1989, the Kazakh populace, led by Olzhas Suleimenov, head of the Kazakhstan Writers’ Union and one of the country’s most prominent poets, undertook a formidable challenge against the Soviet Union.
Their principal demand was the immediate cessation of the Soviet Union’s nuclear testing operations at the Semipalatinsk test site. In a demonstration of unwavering solidarity with the concurrent anti-nuclear activism underway at the Nevada Test Site, they christened their burgeoning movement as “Nevada.”
The catalyst for Kazakhstan’s strong opposition to nuclear testing was an underground nuclear test that occurred on February 12, 1989, at Degelen Mountain. Few foresaw that this test would become a symbolic turning point, leading to the Polygon’s ultimate demise.
During this test, two radioactive gases, xenon-133 and xenon-135, which are produced during the fission of uranium-235, escaped through cracks in the soil that had been weakened by years of testing. In the past, the release of these invisible and odorless gases during underground tests typically went unnoticed as the gases quickly dispersed in the air. Xenon, when used in controlled amounts, has medical applications. However, when inhaled in large quantities, it can lead to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and in extreme cases, unconsciousness or even death.1Kassenova, Togzhan. Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2022. pp. 75-76.,2“Xenon (Xe) – Chemical Properties, Health and Environmental Effects.” Accessed August 29, 2023. Link.
Just one day after the explosion, radiation levels spiked dramatically in the nearby Chagan village, situated about 100 kilometers from the nuclear test site. These levels soared to 150-200 times higher than the typical background radiation levels. This alarming development was not confined to the awareness of high-ranking military officials alone. In fact, some estimates suggest that the local population’s annual radiation exposure may have increased by as much as 3% to 5% due to the effects of a single explosion.3Rosenson, R.I., Tchaikunusova, N. J., Gusev, B. I., Katoh, O., Kimura, A., Hosii, M., Kamada, N.., Satow, Y. “Late effects of exposure to ionizing radiation.” Annual Report of Hiroshima University Research Institute for Genetic Medicine. No. 36 (1995). Link.
The nuclear test conducted on February 12, 1989 unleashed a robust anti-nuclear movement in Kazakhstan. This movement garnered support from millions of individuals across the nation, drawing sympathizers from every corner of the country. It was fueled by a potent mix of fear, despair, and deep-seated resentment towards the Soviet nuclear program, ultimately culminating in a massive wave of protest.
At the forefront of this resistance was Olzhas Suleimenov, a highly distinguished literary figure in Kazakhstan and a prominent voice of his generation. Suleimenov would go on to play a pivotal role in galvanizing the nation to join the fight against nuclear testing and its associated risks.
The situation was very serious, very dangerous following those tests,” he said. “We now consider it a most urgent matter to end all nuclear testing.4Parks, Michael. “From the Archives: Soviet Group Seeks Total A-Test Ban.” Los Angeles Times, March 25, 1989. Link.
The life expectancy in developed countries is increasing while in our republic it has shortened by four years compared with a decade ago. One of the main reasons is the increasing radioactivity levels in soil, water, and food. . . . Forty years of peace? No, those were forty years of silent war! The government is waging secret nuclear war against its people. . . . To be or not to be. We face Hamlet’s dilemma . . .5Nevada-Kazakhstan, documentary directed by Sergei Shafir, Kazakhfilm, 1990.
Amidst mounting public discontent, the Soviet Council of Ministers responded with a limited offer in late November. They pledged to cease nuclear tests by January 1, 1993, and limit them to nine annually until that date. However, as military interests and the military-industrial complex exerted pressure on the Kremlin to continue testing, Kazakhstan escalated its appeals for the Kremlin to stop.
In response, between 1989 and 1992, activists from both the Western Shoshone and Kazakhstan embarked on joint tours across the United States. Their mission was to inform ordinary Americans about the harmful consequences of radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons testing. Alongside these educational efforts, they engaged in cultural and political exchanges that resulted in delegates traveling to each other’s homelands to participate in protests.6Rozsa, George Gregory. “The Nevada Movement: A Model of Trans-Indigenous Antinuclear Solidarity.” Journal of Transnational American Studies 11, no. 2 (2020). Link. Back at home, under Suleimenov’s campagin, Nevada-Semipalatinsk activists initiated a series of peace-focused lessons in schools throughout Kazakhstan at the beginning of each academic term.7Kassenova, Togzhan. Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2022. pp. 87. Furthermore, in a show of international solidarity, demonstrations supporting the Nevada-Semipalatinsk Movement’s demands spread to the United States, Japan, and West Germany.8“‘Nevada-Semipalatinsk’ Antinuclear Movement (Kazakhstan, USSR), Chronology of the Movement 1989-1990 | Wilson Center Digital Archive.” Accessed August 29, 2023. Link.
The culmination of these efforts came on August 29, 1991, which marked the forty-second anniversary of the first Soviet nuclear test at Semipalatinsk. It was on this historic day that the Semipalatinsk testing site was permanently closed. Soviet officials have repeatedly acknowledged the pivotal role played by the Nevada-Semipalatinsk movement in influencing their decision to terminate the USSR’s nuclear weapons testing program.9Peter Zheutlin, “Nevada U.S.S.R.” Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (March 1990): 11.
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