The article discusses the causes of changes in the state policy of the USSR after the death of I.V. Stalin, discussions and disputes in Soviet and foreign historiography, the role of the post-Stalinist leaders of the Soviet Union - L.P.Beria, N.S. Khrushchev in carrying out this liberalization, the general periodization of the state rehabilitation policy is given. The legislative basis of the rehabilitation process during the "Khrushchev thaw" is considered on the basis of the analysis of the "Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of March 27, 1953 "On amnesty". The results of the rehabilitation process during the "Khrushchev thaw" of 1953-1964 are considered, conclusions are drawn on the rehabilitation process in these years and the peculiarities of the beginning of the rehabilitation process in Kazakhstan are revealed.