Members of Kazakhstan’s parliament have proposed adopting a law on foreign agents, requiring 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 (PPK), has sparked debate within the country’s political and expert circles.
Push for Greater Transparency
Irina Smirnova, a deputy from the PPK, a party that won 10 of the 98 seats in the 2023 parliamentary elections, publicly announced the proposal. The PPK is currently the third-largest political force in Kazakhstan, following AMANAT and Ak Zhol.
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.
“Financial and material-technical assistance to Kazakhstani NGOs is also provided by other foreign structures, including embassies that are not listed among these donors,” Smirnova stated.
According to her, much of this foreign support is directed toward projects related to media and freedom of speech, the protection of vulnerable groups, democracy promotion, civil society development, liberal reforms, and fostering civic engagement.
“And even specialists cannot always determine which resources are friendly and where we must be cautious to avoid exposure to ‘destructive soft power,’” she said. “This is a problem and a challenge for our entire society.”
As a solution, the PPK is calling for a reassessment of certain NGOs operating in what it describes as a “gray zone” and a revision of the regulations governing foreign donors in Kazakhstan.
Following Global Trends
Smirnova cited international examples of foreign agent laws, noting that similar regulations exist in Israel (since 2016), China (since 2017), Australia (since 2018), the United Kingdom (since 2023), and France (since 2024). She also pointed to the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), enacted in 1938, as a model for regulating individuals and organizations acting in the interests of foreign entities.
She argued that Kazakhstan should adopt a similar law, mandating foreign-funded media and NGOs to disclose their financial sources. The proposed legislation would also outline penalties for failing to comply with registration requirements or deviating from declared activities.
At the same time, the PPK suggested introducing exemptions for humanitarian and scientific organizations that receive foreign funding.
Expert Skepticism
The proposal has received a lukewarm response from Kazakhstan’s political analysts. Analyst Islam Kurayev dismissed the idea, arguing that Kazakhstan’s existing legal framework already regulates foreign funding and foreign-affiliated entities.
“MP Irina Smirnova has been in the [parliament, the Mazhilis] for several years and should be aware that such a law is unnecessary,” Kurayev wrote on his Telegram channel.
“The reason is simple: Kazakhstan’s legislation already contains provisions regulating foreign financing and individuals connected to third countries. These regulations are embedded in various legal acts, meaning the necessary restrictions are already in place. There is no need to consolidate them into a separate law, effectively branding organizations with a ‘stigma.’ Given the current social tensions and ongoing public sector restructuring, such an anti-democratic law is unlikely to pass.”
Regional Context
As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, neighboring Kyrgyzstan adopted a law tightening control over foreign-funded NGOs in 2024, prompting concerns among civil society organizations and human rights activists.
Kazakhstan’s proposed legislation, if enacted, could have similar implications, raising questions about the balance between national security and civil liberties.
