This article examines the historiography of the formation and functioning of the GULAG prison-camp system. It is known that more than 20 camps were created on the territory of Kazakhstan, which covered almost all regions of the republic with their network. Of great interest are the studies of Russian and foreign scientists, who, based on a large archival material, were able to conduct a thorough analysis of the process of creating and developing the GULAG. Kazakh researchers also contributed to the coverage of this issue, revealing the features of the structure and activities of the camp system in the territorial borders of Kazakhstan. It should be noted that correctional labor camps to a large extent played the role of economic entities, rather than institutions for the re-education of criminal elements. In addition to criminality, in the 1920s and 1950s, there were people in the camps who were convicted on false and far-fetched charges. This article is not a complete overview of the problem under study and requires further study.
The article was prepared in the framework of the scientific project No. AR08856940 «Prorvinsky and Astrakhan camps in the GULAG system: history, memory, heritage (1932-1950))».