The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan has proposed tougher legislation to prevent interethnic and interreligious conflicts.
Minister Aida Balayeva emphasized the need to strengthen legal responsibility for inciting discord, highlighting that approximately 4,000 religious associations representing 18 different confessions are registered in Kazakhstan. According to Balayeva, the existing legal framework should be reinforced. “It is necessary to accelerate the process of legal support for this issue,” she stated.
She added that the government continues to provide grant support to ethno-cultural associations as part of broader efforts to maintain interethnic harmony and unity. The ministry is also intensifying its fight against misinformation and working to enhance the security of the country’s information space. As part of these initiatives, the law “On Mass Media” was adopted. In 2023, authorities identified more than 67,000 violations of the law on online platforms, leading to the removal of over 18,000 pieces of content deemed unlawful. Additionally, efforts are underway to improve journalism standards, including specialized training programs for media professionals.
Kazakhstan’s current legislation already imposes strict penalties for inciting social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious discord. Under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, offenders can face imprisonment for up to 20 years.
Several recent cases highlight the government’s determination to enforce these laws. In January 2025, Kazakhstani journalist Dana Ormanbayeva was placed on an international wanted list on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. At the beginning of the year, Temirlan Ensebek, author of the satirical blog QazNews24, was arrested for two months for publishing material allegedly containing clear signs of inciting interethnic hatred by insulting representatives of an entire ethnic group.
