DISINFO: The West has failed to cultivate Russophobia in Kazakhstan
SUMMARY
Kazakhstan's State Revenue Committee caused a stir by publishing a list of those who receive foreign funding. Individuals on the list, take a pro-Western and pro-Ukrainian stance, work with various banned and undesirable organisations in Russia like USAID and Soros and influence public opinion in Kazakhstan, despite resistance from Kazakhstani people.
The fact that a small percentage (about 6-10%) of the population holds xenophobic and Russophobic views reflects the West's failure to influence Kazakhstani society. Only a small portion of society, specifically agents of influence, wish for Ukraine's victory, while the majority of the population holds a different view. They believe that they have no disagreements with the Russian people, as they share the same cultural reality.
RESPONSE
This claim is a mix of narratives, increasingly spread by pro-Kremlin outlets, claiming that the West is waging a hybrid war against Russia. This narrative fits into the broader disinformation theme about the West’s allegedly belligerent and hostile agenda against Russia, and about its alleged plans to destabilise and encircle Russia.
The term “Russophobia” is used by pro-Kremlin disinformation to target alleged enemies of Russia. Pro-Kremlin propagandists often claim that Russophobia is the equivalent of anti-Semitism. The “fight against Russophobia” has been used to strengthen the internal stability of the Russian authoritarian regime, to implement various foreign policy objectives, as well as to discredit NATO and EU enlargement.
Kazakhstan has close historical, economic and security ties with Russia, which influence people’s perception of Russia in several ways. According to Demoscope public opinion monitoring bureau, almost 60% are neutral with regards to the war in Ukraine, 12.8% support Russia and 21.1% support Ukraine, figures similar to those produced by a similar poll last November. Nearly a third of respondents said their perception of Russia had worsened because of the war in Ukraine, over a half said it had not changed and only 4.7% said it had improved.
Read more about how pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets target George Soros. See also similar cases claiming that West increases pressure on CIS countries to break old ties, that the West caused the Ukraine coup, Belarus colour revolution and that Ukrainian authorities constantly oppress and infringe Russian-speaking people.