Is it true that the name Kyzylzhar, which they want to give to Petropavlovsk in Kazakhstan, has no historical roots?

In mid-April 2023, many Russian Telegram channels responded to the initiative to rename the Kazakh city of Petropavlovsk to Kyzylzhar by claiming that this “historical” name was invented, and Petropavlovsk arose in the middle of the steppe. We decided to check if this is true.

On April 15, 2023, the following text appeared in popular Russian-language Telegram channels: “In Kazakhstan they want to rename the city of Petropavlovsk, they have even come up with a certain historical name - Kyzylzhar. “The deputies expressed their opinion on the possibility of renaming several cities in Kazakhstan. For example, they decided to give Petropavlovsk the historical name Kyzylzhar.” The city of Petropavlovsk was founded in 1752 by Peter the Great. Before that, in its place there was only bare steppe.” Relevant posts were published, for example, by the channels “Truthfulness"(185,000 views at the time of publication), "I'm aware"(68,000) and Putin TG Team (62,000).

The news quoted in Telegram channels is manipulative. There is no talk yet about any decision to give Petropavlovsk the name Kyzylzhar. Initially it was offer Ermurat Bapi, an independent deputy of the Mazhilis (the lower house of the country's parliament). He, however, said that citizens themselves should take the initiative and launch a petition. Petition and the truth appeared; at the time of publication of this analysis, 55,000 people signed it (39,000 voted for the renaming, 19,000 against). The authorities of Petropavlovsk reacted with restraint to its appearance, saying that the issue of renaming was not on the city agenda. 

As for the historical part, first of all it is worth noting a gross mistake that immediately catches the eye: Peter I died in 1725 and could not have founded Petropavlovsk. In 1752, when on the Russian throne was Elizaveta Petrovna, military expedition on the right bank of the Ishim River founded wooden fortress of St. Peter. Only in 1807 did the expanded fortress receive the status of a city and the name Petropavlovsk.

Historians have no information about any settlements that were previously on the site of the fortress. But the name Kyzylzhar (very common in the region, its Russian analogue is Krasny Yar) in relation to this area is found even before the founding of the fortress by the Russian military. In one of the songs of the Kazakh warrior and akyn of Kozhabergen-zhyrau mentioned Kyzylzhar, area on the banks of the Yesil (Ishim) River. Kozhabergen was born in 1663; he composed his most famous songs in the first half of the 18th century. Therefore, we can say with confidence that the name Kyzylzhar appeared before Petropavlovsk became a full-fledged city.

The proposal to rename Petropavlovsk was first made in 1925. The authorities of the Autonomous Cossack SSR (as the republic was called from 1925 to 1936) offered to eliminate, in their opinion, the overly religious name of the locality.

There appears to be a typo in the document itself: a letter is missing from the name Kyzyl-Zhar. The initiative reached the All-Union Central Executive Committee, but it was not given any progress at the highest level. Petropavlovsk retained its pre-revolutionary name.

Thus, the statement that modern Kazakhstan “invented” a historical name to rename Petropavlovsk is untrue.

Cover photo: Wikimedia Commons

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

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