Kazakhstan intends to boost collaboration with Russia in overseeing non-governmental organization (NGO) operations.
Russia and Kazakhstan are set to boost cooperation on the governance of non-commercial organizations, effective January 1, sparking apprehension among Kazakh NGOs. The expansion in cooperation encompasses the regulation of non-commercial activities, including those undertaken by religious organizations.
The agreement was formalized by justice ministry officials from both countries in late November, through a Memorandum of Understanding. The arrangement spans 2025-26 and reportedly provides for the extensive sharing of information. In a statement, the Russian Justice Ministry noted that the accord will allow parties to exchange insights on the legal regulation of non-commercial organizations and the legislative process, as well as share legal texts and law enforcement practices.
Independent observers suspect the use of "digital technologies in the legal environment" as a euphemism for enhanced digital monitoring of NGOs and other non-profit entities.
The Russian Justice Ministry's statement indicates that the agreement enhances the international legal basis of Russian-Kazakh cooperation in the realm of justice. Kazakhstan's Justice Ministry, however, has adopted a more cautious stance, assuring that national legislation will take priority over joint activities, and that cooperation can be suspended if deemed necessary due to violations of national regulations.
Kazakh NGOs have expressed concern over the lack of specifics regarding the cooperation outlined in the memo. Many activists view Russia as a country imposing restrictions on non-governmental bodies, utilizing a restrictive regulatory framework, including the controversial 'foreign agents' law that effectively bars non-profits from accepting foreign funding.
Experts worry that the collaboration may amplify the suppression of civil liberties in Kazakhstan, given Russia's historically close association with the constraint of independent information and suppression of the non-governmental sector.
While NGOs in Kazakhstan generally enjoy a degree of operational freedom, primarily in areas not involving politics or sensitive topics, the authorities conduct spot audits and require the disclosure of detailed information about NGO operations. Additionally, the U.S. mission in Kazakhstan reported in 2024 that while local non-profit groups and international human rights organizations enjoy relative freedom to carry out watchdog functions, authorities closely monitor the activities of NGOs working on sensitive issues.
Furthermore, according to the US State Department’s latest annual Report on International Religious Freedom, religions considered 'non-traditional', such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, and Muslim groups wearing identifiable attire continue to face increased societal scrutiny and discrimination in Kazakhstan. Diplomats continue to implore the Kazakh government to remove burdensome registration requirements for religious communities.
- The expanded politics of cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan in the governance of non-commercial organizations, including NGOs and religious organizations, has sparked concerns among Kazakh NGOs about the potential use of digital technologies in the legal environment, which some observers suspect might lead to enhanced digital monitoring.
- The agreement between Russia and Kazakhstan on policy-and-legislation regarding non-commercial organizations and the sharing of information could potentially amplify civil liberties suppression in Kazakhstan, given Russia's historical association with the constraint of independent information and suppression of the non-governmental sector.
- In the general-news scene, the ongoing Kazakhstan-Russia collaboration on the regulation of non-commercial activities, such as those undertaken by religious organizations, is a topic of interest, particularly as it pertains to crime-and-justice issues, considering Russia's use of restrictive regulatory frameworks like the controversial 'foreign agents' law.
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