Nazino Tragedy

The Nazino tragedy, also known as the Nazino Island incident, occurred in May 1933 when around 6,700 prisoners were deported to Nazino Island in Siberia by the Soviet Union. They were left with minimal supplies and harsh conditions, leading to disease, violence, and cannibalism. Over 4,000 deportees died within 13 weeks, with survivors in poor health. The incident was initially reported by Vasily A. Velichko but remained classified until 1988 when Memorial investigated. The tragedy gained attention in 2002 with the release of reports from a special commission. The deportation was part of a larger plan to resettle people to Siberia and Kazakhstan, targeting various groups including urban residents lacking passports. The deportees faced challenges during transportation and upon arrival at the isolated island, where they struggled to survive without proper resources. The breakdown of order on the island led to further chaos and suffering. Stalin eventually rejected the deportation plans.