On February 12, a parliamentary inquiry regarding a foreign agent law was presented to the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament. The bill was presented by five parliamentarians led by Irina Smirnova from the People’s Party of Kazakhstan. The group cited a desire for greater sovereignty as the rationale behind the proposal. Smirnova argued that the state should not allow the imposition of foreign values on Kazakhstan, pointing to similar laws enacted in other countries as a precedent.
According to Smirnova, nearly 200 NGOs in Kazakhstan receive foreign funding, with 70 percent of these organizations funded through various U.S. sources, a figure that seems to align with publicly available data. Many of these NGOs operate in the media sector or focus on freedom of speech, a common area of work for civil society organizations.
As seen in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and most recently Georgia, laws of this nature often increase financial oversight of NGOs. Given the recent freeze of USAID funding in January, such legislation could further impact Kazakh civil society. Additionally, new regulations might target media outlets like RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service, Radio Azattyk, which Smirnova accused of portraying Kazakhstan in a consistently negative light.
Shortly after Smirnova’s inquiry, the proposal faced criticism, primarily for being redundant. According to political analyst Gaziz Abishev, the Kazakh government already has multiple mechanisms in place to control civil society, so a new law isn’t necessary. This was seconded by political scientist Islam Kurayev, who argued that Kazakhstan already established a register in 2023 listing entities and individuals receiving foreign funding. Combined with what he described as “social tensions and restructuring within the public sector,” Kurayev believes the state does not need additional legislation.
Kazakh officials claim that the foreign funding register was designed to boost public trust in the state and NGOs. However, multiple human rights organizations have described it as a “foreign agent” list. Despite these concerns, the register itself did not impose any new legal burdens on NGOs.
While the register includes media organizations such as Reuters, the specific outlet Smirnova criticized, Radio Azattyk, is notably absent. This omission raises concerns that a new law could further restrict independent media in Kazakhstan. A foreign agent law could also introduce stricter rules for NGOs and journalists alike, potentially mirroring the measures implemented in Russia and Kyrgyzstan, where such laws have resulted in increased scrutiny, mandatory labeling of published materials, and severe penalties for non-compliance.
Despite USAID only disbursing $9.5 million to Kazakhstan in 2024 according to partially reported official figures, an amount relatively minor compared to neighboring countries, the funds still had a substantial importance for local civil society organizations. Programs in the spheres of democracy, human rights, and governance, which received around $2 million last year via USAID, have been significantly affected by the recent funding freeze. This includes the temporary suspension of an English language training program for journalists and several civic engagement initiatives. Another affected project, the Civil Society Support Program in Central Asia (CSSP), was set to receive $150,000 before its funding was paused just nine months before its scheduled completion. If USAID funding is fully withdrawn, many projects like these may never receive their remaining grants.
Smirnova has suggested that foreign funding should still be permitted for humanitarian and scientific work while imposing restrictions on media and human rights organizations. She stated, “Such an approach will protect national interests but will not lead to persecution or hinder the development of a healthy civil society.” However, while some organizations may continue operating without foreign aid, those focusing on discrimination and civil rights are likely to face significant challenges.
On February 17, independent media outlet Mediazona announced its indefinite closure without specifying a reason. While the timing coincides with the parliamentary inquiry, as well as the suspension of USAID funds, it remains unclear whether the events are connected.
The debate over foreign funding in Kazakhstan raises broader questions about the country’s commitment to media freedom and civic engagement in an increasingly restrictive political climate.
