Museum of the Victims of Political Repression

The Museum of the Victims of Political Repression stands at Shahidlar Xotirasi Square on Amir Temur Avenue in the Yunusobod District of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, across the avenue from the TV Tower. It documents the political repression that Central Asians suffered under the Russian Empire and especially during the Soviet period, including the purges of the 1930s, the forced collectivisation, deportations and the persecution of intellectuals, writers and religious figures known as the Jadids. The museum was opened after independence and forms part of the Shahidlar Xotirasi memorial park, a quiet green area dedicated to those who died.

Visitors move through rooms of documents, photographs, personal belongings, letters, court records and reconstructed prison items. A reconstructed cell and displays about arrests and executions give a direct sense of what victims endured, and portraits of prominent figures such as the Jadid reformers stand beside everyday people caught up in the campaigns. The tone is sombre, and displays are mostly in Uzbek and Russian, though some English information is available. A guide, reported at a similar fee to the entry ticket of about 25,000 UZS, helps to interpret the exhibits.

A visit lasts about 45 minutes. The museum is generally open Tuesday to Sunday from about 09:00 to 17:00 and closed on Mondays. It is rarely crowded, and mornings are the calmest time, which also suits a combined trip with the TV Tower. Visitors should dress respectfully and keep voices low, as the memorial park is used for remembrance. The park outside offers shade and benches and makes a reflective end to the visit.

Photography rules should be checked at the desk, and sensitive displays may be restricted. The museum can be reached by Yandex Go taxi from the centre for about 20,000 to 35,000 UZS, or by phone enquiry on +998 71 244 73 31. It offers an important counterpoint to the monuments and bazaars that dominate most itineraries and helps visitors to understand modern Uzbek history.