DISINFO: The West seeks to destabilise Central Asian regimes loyal to Moscow
SUMMARY
The West provides military and financial support to Kyiv, and supports various groups that are seen as a counterweight to Russian influence, such as liberal democrats, nationalists and pan-Islamists, to destabilise political regimes that do not want to quarrel with Moscow. These same categories were actively involved in the January 2022 events in Kazakhstan, and although the verdict in the case of the main organiser did not officially include a foreign trail, there was an article on high treason. The West tried to influence events in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, but the authorities suppressed such attempts. It is no coincidence that all Central Asian heads of state at their regular summits regularly condemn destabilising foreign interference in their affairs and promote an information security agenda.
RESPONSE
The article repeats a pro-Kremlin narrative alleging that the January 2022 anti-government protests in Kazakhstan were part of a policy by Western countries (in this case represented by the US) of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia and its allies (the CIS).
There is no evidence to support claims about foreign interference of any kind in the unrest in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan or any other country. In January 2022, peaceful protests against rising liquid gas prices led to nationwide protests against economic inequality. The protests descended into riots, and prompted a massive security response from the government, including a “shoot to kill” order and the unprecedented deployment of forces from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The crackdown included internet shutdowns, a massive wave of arrests and arbitrary detentions.
The EU and the US recognise the importance of the sovereignty and strategic autonomy of the Central Asian states, both individually and as a region. Tackling common security challenges and building the region's resilience are among the priority strands for the EU-Central Asia and US-Central Asia partnerships
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that 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.