DISINFO: The West is trying to destabilize Kazakhstan
SUMMARY
The actions of the West — the United States and the European Union — both together and individually, are currently carrying a destructive agenda that is trying to destabilise national unity and disrupt a linguistic balance in Kazakhstan. At a recent EU-Central Asia summit, President Tokayev repeated twice the thesis about the need for caution in assessments. Since this thesis was repeated twice, it is likely that the speeches of von der Leyen and Kallas went beyond the bounds of propriety.
RESPONSE
Amplification of pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the meddling of "the West" in fueling the ethnic and political tensions in a country. The claim is made in the context of restrictive measures imposed by the EU on Russia in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
There is no credible evidence to support the claim about foreign interference of any kind by the West in Kazakhstan or any other country or region.
Political, economic, cultural, trade, military, and security partnerships between Kazakhstan and the EU aim to foster mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, not to counter Russia or any other nation. The EU - Central Asia strategy outlines three priority strands for EU engagement: investing in regional cooperation and partnering for resilience and prosperity.
The first Central Asia-European Union Summit held in Samarkand, on the 3rd April 2025, reaffirmed the shared commitment of Central Asia and the EU to a strategic partnership built on common values and interests. The Joint Declaration following the Summit concluded that cooperation in many a
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission emphasised concerning EU-Central Asia cooperation:
“At this historic summit, Europe and Central Asia have decided to elevate our cooperation to a strategic partnership. In an uncertain world, we send a clear and powerful message: we are partners of choice, and we can rely on each other. To kick-start this new era, we are launching a €12 billion Global Gateway investment package—strengthening transport links between us and deepening cooperation on critical raw materials, digital connectivity, water, and energy. These investments will benefit us both. Because when our partners grow and prosper, Europe does too”.
See this fact sheet on EU relations with Central Asia as well as our article In Kazakhstan and Central Asia the Kremlin cries Russophobia.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that the West plans to destabilise Central Asia, US-sponsored Kazakhstan protests aimed to undermine CIS stability, that protests in Kazakhstan are a new Western attempt to organise a colour revolution, that events in Kazakhstan are another Western-made colour revolution or that EU and US aim to generate a new wave of anti-government protests in Belarus.