Kazakhstan: MP Demands Tighter Disclosure Rules for Those Receiving Foreign Funds

The leader of the People’s Party of Kazakhstan, Magerram Magerramov, has submitted a parliamentary inquiry to Deputy Prime Minister Aida Balayeva, calling for amendments to the rules governing disclosure of foreign-funded recipients and for tighter oversight of this information, Orda.kz reports.

His appeal was prompted by the State Revenue Committee’s registry for the first half of 2025, which lists 186 individuals and organizations receiving money from abroad.

The exact amounts are unknown, but media estimates reach up to $60 million per year. Magerramov also cited the example of USAID, which has provided over $150 million in grants over ten years,
 the inquiry states.

According to the MP, the existing registry fails to convey a full picture of how funds actually move. It does not specify donors, amounts, project objectives, or oversight mechanisms. Instead, money is often redistributed through branches of foreign NGOs, leaving the end recipients opaque.

This, he argues, creates a “gray zone” where tracking financial flows is nearly impossible.

Magerramov stressed that although such a system can support useful initiatives, it could also become a tool for influencing society, warning of risks such as “cultural aggression,” manipulation of public sentiment, and interference in domestic affairs.

The People’s Party faction is proposing to expand the types of information required in the registry — including disclosure of donors, total amounts received, project purposes, completion certificates, independent audits, and tax filings.

Magerramov also called for harsher penalties for hiding or falsifying data, saying transparency is a matter of national self-defense and should be treated as a strategic priority.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov