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

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

The news that is quoted in Telegram channels is manipulative. There is no talk of any decision to Petropavlovsk. It was originally offer Ermurat Bapi, independent deputy of the Mazhilis (the lower house of the country's parliament). True, he said that citizens themselves should show the initiative and launch a petition. Petition And the truth appeared, at the time of the publication of this analysis, it was signed by 55,000 people (39,000 voted for renaming, 19,000 - against). The authorities of Petropavlovsk reacted to its appearance with restraint, saying that there was no issue of renaming in 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 Petropavlovsk could not establish in any way. In 1752, when on the Russian throne was Elizaveta Petrovna, on the right bank of the Ishim River Military Expedition founded The wooden fortress of St. Peter. Only in 1807 the growing fortress received the status of the city and the name Petropavlovsk.

Historians have no information about any settlements that were before the place of the fortress. But the name Kyzylzhar (very common In the region, its Russian analogue is red yar) in relation to this area, before the foundations of the fortress by the Russian military, there is even before the foundations of the fortress. In one of the songs of the Kazakh warrior and akyn Kozhbergen-Zhyrau Mentioned Kyzylzhar, the area on the banks of the Esil River (Ishim). Kozhabergen was born in 1663, he composed his most famous songs in the first half of the 18th century. Therefore, it is safe to say that the name Kyzylzhar appeared earlier than Petropavlovsk became a full -fledged city.

The proposal for renaming Petropavlovsk was first expressed in 1925. Authorities of the autonomous Cossack SSR (as the republic was called from 1925 to 1936) Offered To eliminate too much, in their opinion, the religious name of the settlement.

In the document itself, apparently, a typo: the letter is missing in the name Kyzyl-Jar. The initiative reached the All -Union Central Executive Committee, but at the highest level she was not given a move. Petropavlovsk retained its pre -revolutionary name.

Thus, the assertion that in modern Kazakhstan “invented” the historical name for the renaming of Petropavlovsk is not true.

Photo on the cover: Wikimedia Commons