On this day: December 16

National days on this date

• Kazakhstan Independence DayA national holiday marking the declaration of Kazakhstan's independence in 1991.

Events

1. 1912 Battle of Elli 1912 naval battle of the First Balkan War
2. 1986 Jeltoqsan 1986 Alma-Ata protests and riots that resulted in massacre

Births

1. 1898 Ghazanfar Khaligov Soviet Azerbaijani painter (1898-1981)
2. 1929 Bibigul Tulegenova Soviet-Kazakh opera singer, actress, and educator
3. 1961 Salatyn Asgarova Azerbaijani journalist and national heroine (1961-1991)

Deaths

1. 1979 Vagif Mustafazadeh Azerbaijani musician (1940-1979)
2. 2011 Franghiz Ahmadova Azerbaijani opera singer and music educator (1928-2011)
3. 2023 Oleg Ryakhovskiy Soviet triple jumper