Disinfo: Protests in Kazakhstan were funded from abroad; the US might be behind this

Summary

The radicals were accused of being funded and trained from abroad. The suspicion that the US may have played a role in Kazakhstan clearly stems from the fact that its proven instruments for regime change, such as the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), are active in Kazakhstan and typically fund anti-government movements.

Disproof

This claim advances a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that the January 2022 anti-government protests in Kazakhstan are orchestrated from abroad and are part of a US policy of staging “colour revolutions”.

The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors supported by foreign powers who constantly prepare new coups.

The trigger and immediate cause of the protests in Kazakhstan was the government's lifting of price controls on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that took place in early January in the Western region of Manghystau and unrest soon spread to the capital.

As the Guardian reports, the official story from the Kremlin began with explanations that the protests were a military coup organised by foreign terrorists. Later the notion of a "colour revolution" is added. However, the narrative is not based on facts and contains many gaps and inconsistencies.

There are however more deep-rooted causes for the protests in a country that suffers from a lack of democracy, corruption and economic difficulties despite being rich in economic resources. For example, Kazakhstan ranks 128 out of 167 countries in the 2020 Democracy Index and also ranks 94 out of 180 countries in the 2020 Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

See also the statement by the EU High Representative here.

Read also related cases: US-sponsored Kazakhstan protests aimed to undermine CIS stability, Protests in Kazakhstan are a new Western attempt to organise a colour revolution or EU and the US aim to generate a new wave of anti-government protests in Belarus.

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publication/media

de.rt.com (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 270
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/01/2022
  • Article language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Kazakhstan, Russia, US
  • Keywords: Coup, Euromaidan, Vladimir Putin, Protest
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Jan 12, 2022
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives painting the 2013-14 protests in Kyiv as a coup d'état, as well as presenting NATO as an aggressive alliance.

There was no 'pro-American' coup d’état in Kyiv in 2014; this is a longstanding pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Ukraine's Euromaidan. The spontaneous onset of the Euromaidan protests was a reaction by numerous segments of the Ukrainian population to former president Viktor Yanukovych’s sudden departure from the promised (and negotiated for years) Association Agreement with the European Union in November 2013.

Disinfo: Ukrainian trace is clearly visible in the protests in Kazakhstan

The Ukrainian trace is clearly visible in the protests in Kazakhstan. Kyiv's special service had long since fuelled nationalism there and turned against Russia. It is an invasion from the East against Russia.

Jan 12, 2022
Disproof

This claim advances an emerging pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that the January 2022 anti-government protests in Kazakhstan are part of a foreign-inspired and directed plot, in this case, Ukrainian.

The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West, with the aim of portraying protest movements as aggressive actors supported by foreign powers who constantly prepare new coups.

Disinfo: Kazakh rebellion was instigated during Orthodox Christmas hoping Russia would be slow to react

The situation [around Russia] becomes more and more complicated. The countries neighbouring Russia face revolts and sharp social conflicts, which break out with more or less overt US interference. While the dangerous situation in Belarus had barely been resolved, Kazakhstan faced a sharp revolt due to social dissatisfaction. Its outbreak coincided with the Orthodox Christmas in Russia, while Putin and the Russian Army were on vacation. The instigators of the Kazakh rebellion thought that it would take a long time for Russia to react.

The American hawks are terribly worried about the fact that Russia is a strong state capable of quick reaction to the crises on its borders. The US is implementing the revised Truman doctrine against Russia with increasing intensity.

Jan 12, 2022
Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation claim alleging that the January 2022 anti-government protests in Kazakhstan are part of a US policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia.

The pro-Kremlin media frequently falsely portray popular protests around the world as instigated from abroad, often by the US and the West. The trigger and immediate cause of the protests in Kazakhstan was the government's lifting of price controls on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that took place in early January in the Western region of Manghystau and unrest soon spread to the capital.