Kazakhstan’s parliament is debating a proposed foreign agent law that would require media and NGOs receiving foreign funding to disclose their sources, sparking controversy over transparency and influence.
Members of Kazakhstan’s parliament have proposed a law on foreign agents, which would require media outlets and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that receive foreign funding to disclose their financial sources. The initiative, put forward by deputies from the People’s Party of Kazakhstan, has sparked debate within the country’s political and expert circles.
Member of Parliament Irina Smirnova has proposed that Kazakhstan adopt a foreign agent law, arguing that the country “must revise the rules of the game” with foreign donors, who, she claims, often disguise their interests under the pretense of promoting free media and protecting human rights.
Smirnova has prepared an inquiry addressed to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, proposing a foreign agent law similar to those in Israel, China, Australia, the United States, and France. She believes Kazakhstan should adopt this practice and require media outlets to disclose their sources of funding to both readers and viewers.
Citing open-source data, Smirnova claimed that approximately 200 NGOs in Kazakhstan receive foreign funding, with around 70% of these organizations reportedly financed by sources from the United States. She added that, in an official capacity, Kazakhstan has received grants from 165 different foreign donors, including 53 international organizations, 31 foreign government entities, and 81 foreign NGOs.
“If foreign NGOs, which operate quite comfortably in Kazakhstan, are indeed pursuing their agenda, we may see the consequences of their influence — and we won’t be happy with them. It is time to reassess the status of some NGOs that have been operating in a gray zone for years and change the rules of the game with foreign donors, who mask their political interests behind the guise of supporting media, human rights, and tolerance,” Smirnova said.
In 2022, the Ministry of Information stated that a foreign agent law would not be introduced in Kazakhstan. At the time, the ministry said the country would instead promote free media to enhance its competitiveness and popularity among audiences.
However, the Ministry of Finance does maintain a list of individuals receiving money from foreign governments and organizations. This list is expected to be updated by March 20.
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are set to conduct joint naval exercises, "Caspian Breeze – 2025", in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea near the port city of Aktau.
On April 11, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will participate in the CIS Foreign Ministers Council and the 8th meeting of Russian and Central Asian foreign ministers—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Both events will be hosted in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a meeting to address the worsening global market situation amid the collapse of energy and commodity prices on global markets due to tariff conflicts, the presidential press service said.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have partnered with regional banks to launch a clean energy project connecting Central Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea.
President Trump’s new tariffs hit 185 countries, with Kazakhstan facing the highest rate at 27%. Kazakhstan now seeks talks with U.S. officials to ease the impact.
A mob attack on an Ahmadi place of worship in Karachi has left one man dead, highlighting ongoing persecution of the minority group.
A Russian court has sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to nearly three years in prison for protesting the war in Ukraine using poetry and graffiti.
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan has called for closer military coordination with Tokyo, framing the alliance as crucial amid rising regional tensions and ongoing trade disputes.
Students in Serbia have rallied outside a police station as Belgrade University’s rector is questioned over support for anti-government protests.
OpenAI has unveiled a new option called Flex processing, an API service designed to provide more affordable AI model usage in exchange for slower response times and occasional resource unavailability.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The British steel industry is grappling with its most significant crisis in decades, as the government has been forced to intervene in an emergency bid to save the country's last operational blast furnaces at British Steel.
Police in Pakistan have detained nearly 180 people following a series of incidents involving KFC restaurants in several major cities.
The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries will come together on May 5 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a major milestone in relations between the two sides.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman has confirmed that the second round of talks between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America will be held in Rome this Saturday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.
A mob attack on an Ahmadi place of worship in Karachi has left one man dead, highlighting ongoing persecution of the minority group.
A Russian court has sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to nearly three years in prison for protesting the war in Ukraine using poetry and graffiti.
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan has called for closer military coordination with Tokyo, framing the alliance as crucial amid rising regional tensions and ongoing trade disputes.
Students in Serbia have rallied outside a police station as Belgrade University’s rector is questioned over support for anti-government protests.
OpenAI has unveiled a new option called Flex processing, an API service designed to provide more affordable AI model usage in exchange for slower response times and occasional resource unavailability.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment