Sežana, 7 May 2026 - On the occasion of the Defender of the Fatherland Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a solemn wreath‑laying ceremony was held in the Slovenian town of Sežana at the grave of a Kazakh soldier who fought in the ranks of the Yugoslav partisans. The event was attended by the Ambassador of Kazakhstan Altai Abibullayev, Mayor of Sežana Andrej Sila, Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan Dimitrij Piciga, Kazakh diplomats, as well as citizens of Kazakhstan and Slovenia.

It was symbolic that the commemoration of the hero took place on Kazakhstan’s national holiday. As President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev noted in his address: “The courage and heroism of our soldiers, demonstrated during the years of the Second World War, remain an eternal example of service to the Motherland and to humanity.”

In this context, the figure of Kasym Zhakypov (known in Slovenia as Kasse Sebero) represents a collective image of all Kazakh soldiers who fought shoulder to shoulder with the Slovenian people in the liberation of this land and gave their lives in the struggle against Nazi‑fascist occupiers.

The hero’s story is an example of personal bravery and a complex historical path. According to archival records, the name “Kasse Sebero” is associated with Kasym Zhakypov, a native of the North Kazakhstan region, although some research also links this identity to Zhienshe Yesimseitov. The life of this soldier, which still requires further study, has already been immortalized by renowned director Sergey Azimov in a documentary film that deeply moved audiences. The public association Atamnyn Amanaty continues to play an active role in coordinating research efforts and fostering cooperation with Slovenia.

A notable outcome of the meeting was the discussion of an initiative to establish sister‑city relations between the town of Sežana and the North Kazakhstan region. Mayor Andrej Sila and Kazakh diplomats agreed to transform historical memory into a foundation for modern interregional cooperation, strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan expressed sincere gratitude to the residents of Sežana for their longstanding respect and care for the soldier’s grave. The fact that the name of a Kazakh fighter is honored by Slovenians as their own, even eight decades later, stands as a profound testament to human solidarity.

Concluding the ceremony, participants emphasized that heroes live as long as their names are spoken with gratitude. The feat of the “Kazakh partisan” remains not merely a page of the past in the history of Slovenia and Kazakhstan, but a living reminder of the price of peace and of the unbreakable friendship forged in shared bloodshed in the struggle for freedom.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-ljubljana/press/news/details/1216521?lang=kk