How it was №1 16.01.2000 (2000)

In 1959, during the construction of a metallurgical plant (Kazakhstan Magnitka) in the Kazakh city of Temirtau, mass riots and a strike broke out.

Firearms were used by internal troops to suppress the rebellion.

Video footage: a metallurgical plant (targeted panorama of a flyby; work in the workshops, metal smelting); radio broadcasts from various sources (mainly foreign news agencies), people at radio receivers, radio transmission lines.

Construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Angara River; creation of a dam - a stone is thrown down with the inscription: "By the will of our native party, we conquered the Angara".

Construction of a city.

Host Oleg Shklovsky gives statistics on the dead and wounded during the suppression of the uprising in Temirtau.

Video footage: construction of a plant, a meeting of workers on the street; a railway station; young people are seen off to a Komsomol construction site.

Alexander Korkin talks about Komsomol members who came to Temirtau.

On the existing strict selection of young people sent to the construction site.

Talks about the organization of the necessary conditions of detention.

According to Korkin, among those who arrived there were people with a criminal record.

Talks about minor hooliganism that preceded mass riots in the city.

Alexey Kazannik talks about the living conditions at the construction site, about the minimal stipends.

Recounts the events of 1959, when workers were refused wages.

Gives his assessment of what happened.

According to Boris Dudyshkin, there have always been robberies and hooliganism in Temirtau.

Names the reasons that led to mass riots.

Talks about incitement in tent cities where the plant's builders lived.

Points out the lack of labor organization.

Alexander Korkin agrees that the organizers of the construction were not ready to cope with the number of Komsomol members who arrived, which affected the conditions of their detention.

Viktor Andreyev talks about the existing disruptions in the water supply.

According to Nikolai Chistyakov, those living in the tent city had constant problems with food supplies; food in the canteens was prepared from spoiled products, hygiene standards were not observed (cockroaches and bedbugs got into the food).

The participants of the program gradually reveal the reasons that led to mass riots, tell how the rebellion was suppressed, and identify mistakes in the actions of the police and military who arrived at the scene of the riots.

The reaction of Brezhnev and the Central Committee to the events is considered.

Vitaly Lelchuk declassified information that had been hidden for more than 40 years.

Doctor of Historical Sciences shares facts obtained by him from archival documents.

Talks about a large group of Bulgarian citizens who worked on the construction of the plant and were subjected to constant hooligan attacks.

Points out the existing difference in the quality of service of the Bulgarians and Soviet brigades.

Talks about the introduction of troops into the tent city.

Boris Dudyshkin talks about the internal confrontation in the town, when local Komsomol members tried to stop the rebels who started mass riots.