Disinfo: Thousands of jihadists have participated in illegal events in Kazakhstan

Summary

Kazakhstan has been infested by radicals with an anti-human ideology. Thousands of jihadists have participated in illegal events in Kazakhstan, trying to undermine the constitutional order of the country. All of this is happening after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan and the rapid development of extremist ideas and tendencies in the region.

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. The message includes an unfounded claim that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan has a connection with the protests in  Kazakhstan.

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.

See related cases about events in Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan faced a process of armed aggression by terrorists who received training abroad; A coup in Kazakhstan was meant to divert Russia’s attention before negotiations; Outside powers prepared the colour revolution in Kazakhstan.

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de.news-front.info (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 270
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 12/01/2022
  • Article language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, US
  • Keywords: Islamic extremism, Coup, Terrorism, Jihad
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Disinfo: Russophobes from Poland and the Baltic states agitate Kazakhstan to "kill the Russians"

The entry of the peacekeeping forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) into Kazakhstan is accompanied by a massive disinformation campaign, the purpose of which is to provoke the Kazakhs into armed resistance against "Russian occupiers". The most active in this field is the Polish Telegram channel NEXTA Live, but it is not the only one. The efforts of the provocateurs are supported by both Ukrainian nationalists and Russian "liberals" - regulars of the Free Russia Forum in Lithuania.

A letter from a certain subscriber from Ukraine, who tells the Kazakhs how to properly deal with the regime, acquired a special resonance. “ Arm yourself to the maximum... " How do you order an ordinary Kazakhstani, who came to a rally against a sharp rise in the cost of liquefied gas, to react to this? It turns out that he needs to participate in hostilities, throw grenades, steal police cars ... A little later, NEXTA points out a new “enemy” to the Kazakhs: “Russian soldiers flew to Kazakhstan. If they think that they will be greeted there empty-handed, they are mistaken. Kazakhs are hospitable people, there is enough room for everyone in the steppe. " Can such a statement be regarded as a call to kill Russian servicemen? Of course.

Jan 11, 2022
Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Russophobic Poland and the Baltic States, which appeared in the context of 2022 protests in Kazakhstan.

No appeals to "kill the Russians" can be found on the Nexta Telegram Channel. In fact, the channel is not Polish but a Belarusian channel, founded by Belarus' opposition blogger Stsiapan Putsila. This channel covers various issues from Brasil to Kazakhstan in the light of corruption and the lack of freedom across the world and has been a prominent target of pro-Kremlin and pro-Lukashenka disinformation.

Disinfo: Poland starts an unnecessary conflict with Russia using its Russophobic rhetoric

Poland deliberately uses Russophobic rhetoric instead of drawing specific conclusions, observing the international situation and holding back its official comments. As a consequence, this country is entering into a completely unnecessary conflict with Russia instead of a dialogue.

Jan 11, 2022
Disproof

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s narrative about Russophobic and anti-Russian Poland. The pro-Kremlin outlets regularly accuse the Polish authorities of Russophobia and inspiration of the anti-Russian sentiments in order to reach particular domestic goals.

The Polish authorities perceive Russia as a security threat because of the aggressive Russian actions, in particular in Crimea, Donbas and Eastern Europe.

Disinfo: Protests in Kazakhstan are sponsored by MI6 to create a new Maidan

Protests in Kazakhstan are sponsored by MI6 to create a new Maidan just ahead of the Russia-US/NATO talks in Geneva and Brussels, to prevent any kind of deal.

Jan 11, 2022
Disproof

Emerging pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative alleging that the January 2022 antigovernmental protests in Kazakhstan are part of a Western policy of staging “colour revolutions” worldwide with the aim of destabilising Russia and preventing any deal at the Russia-US/NATO negotiations.

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.