Kazakhstani MPs start working on foreign agent law

A new working group was established in Kazakhstan; its sole task is to develop a draft law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as announced by the Ministry of Culture’s decree, available on its website. The law on foreign agents was previously proposed by MP Irina Smirnova.

The task force includes 38 individuals, including Vice Minister Ayzada Kurmanova, President of the Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan Banu Nurgaziyeva, MPs, lawyers, public figures, etc. However, the group doesn’t include MP Irina Smirnova, who came up with the idea of the foreign agent law in Kazakhstan.

During a Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) meeting, she pointed to several foreign countries such as Israel, China, Australia, the U.K. and France, which have already adopted such a law. She said that she was convinced that Kazakhstan should follow suit.

«We are collecting proposals from civil society activists. All of them will be carefully reviewed by the working group and will be included in a draft law on regulatory policy,» the agency said.

According to the ministry decree, the draft document must be developed before June 1 and submitted to the Interagency Commission under the Ministry of Justice by Aug. 1.

The Ministry of Culture said it will keep Kazakhstan citizens posted about this work, informing the public about the new law. People have also been invited to share their opinions in a poll.

Meanwhile, messages claiming that work on a foreign agent law has already begun in conjunction with the Russian Ministry of Justice went viral on social media.

According to Smirnova, all these reports are fake, as Kazakhstani MPs examine international best practices but won’t cooperate with any foreign public agencies.