Irina Smirnova. Screenshot from video
Kazakhstan should adopt a law on foreign agents, MP Irina Smirnova of the People's Party of Kazakhstan argued in a request addressed to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Kursiv.kz reports.
Speaking at a session of the Mazhilis (the lower house of parliament), Smirnova stated that it was time to «rewrite the rules of the game» regarding foreign donors, whom she claimed disguise their activities as media support and human rights advocacy.
She noted that similar «foreign agent» laws exist in Israel, China, Australia, the UK, France, and the US. According to Smirnova, Kazakhstan should follow suit and introduce a law requiring media outlets to label their content, enabling citizens to assess and compare information while understanding its source.
Smirnova claimed that approximately 200 NGOs in Kazakhstan receive foreign funding, with 70% of them financed through various US sources. Most of these funds reportedly support projects in media, freedom of speech, human rights, democracy development, civil society, liberal reforms, tolerance promotion, and civic engagement. However, she argued, “Even specialists struggle to distinguish between friendly resources and those that warrant caution to avoid destructive influences.”
“If foreign NGOs, which feel quite comfortable in Kazakhstan, are indeed playing their own game, their influence could backfire on us,” Smirnova warned. She believes that a foreign agent law would help strengthen Kazakhstan’s sovereignty.
Kazakhstan already maintains a record of individuals and organizations receiving funding from foreign governments and entities. This list—often compared to Russia’s foreign agent registry—was first published in the fall of 2023 on the website of the State Revenue Committee under the Ministry of Finance. As of now, it includes around 200 names and organizations.
