DISINFO: The West promotes an anti-Russian agenda in Kazakhstan's information space
SUMMARY
The West is attempting to organise groups of externally controlled journalists in Kazakhstan. Projects to support 'independent' media are part of a large-scale campaign to promote an anti-Russian agenda in the information space in Kazakhstan.
The rhetoric of all so-called independent media is built around the thesis of 'Russian propaganda and its influence on Central Asia.' The vector of intimidation through Western and pro-Western media in Central Asia is well visible here, suggesting that Kazakhstan could allegedly become the next theater of operations after Ukraine.
RESPONSE
This claim is a mix of pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives 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 article advances the claim that Central Asia is within Russia's zone of geopolitical dominance and attempts to discredit any other cooperation between the West.
The EU is supporting Independent media and its capacity building in different regions of the worlds through different projects. That includes projects dedicated to qualitative journalism and business sustainability, capacity building activities and research. The objectives of these projects is to support the work of independent media, not to regulate the content.
According to a Press Freedom Index, Russia is in 164th place out of 180 countries, while Kazakhstan, according to the same index ranks in 134 place. According to the ranking, the European Union, is the region of the world where it is easiest for journalists to work.
Read more about how pro-Kremlin disinformation outlets target George Soros. Similar cases claiming that the West creates unfriendly information space against Moscow in Kazakhstan, the West controls Kazakhstan’s information space, 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.