The Kengir uprising unfolded at the Kengir labor camp located in Kazakhstan, notable for being one of the largest revolts in Soviet Gulag history. The dissatisfaction among the prisoners had been simmering due to extreme hardships, forced labor, and poor living conditions. Initially, the uprising began when prisoners organized a hunger strike, demanding improvements in their daily lives. They called for better food rations, improved healthcare, and political leniency from the Soviet authorities. The prisoners included many political dissidents whose rights had been violated under Stalin's oppressive regime.

The situation escalated quickly as the prisoners seized control of the camp and barricaded themselves, compelling the authorities to negotiate. For approximately two weeks, the standoff lasted, with prisoners holding firm and garnering solidarity from other camps. Soviet military units eventually moved in to suppress the uprising, leading to a brutal crackdown. Many leaders of the uprising were executed or sent to harsher conditions in isolation camps. Despite the violence, the uprising shed light on the realities of the Gulag system and exposed the brutal treatment faced by prisoners.

The uprising, although ultimately suppressed, symbolized the spirit of resistance against oppression within the Gulag system. It raised awareness internationally about the conditions faced by Soviet political prisoners and highlighted dissent within the USSR. The implications of such acts of defiance were profound, fueling discussions about human rights and the need for reform in the Soviet Union.