Majilis Deputy Renewed Push to Restrict LGBT ‘Propaganda’, Citing Child Protection

On April 2, 2025, Majilis deputy Zhanarbek Ashimzhanov submitted a formal inquiry to the government, addressed to Deputy Prime Minister Yermek Kosherbayev. In it, he calls for stricter oversight of social media platforms, a review of certain NGOs — including the feminist group Feminita — and the public release of a Ministry of Culture study on the potential impact of LGBT content on minors, Orda.kz reports. 

He also reiterated his call to implement a legal ban against what he described as “LGBT propaganda.”

Today, organizations promoting LGBT ideas and values that are foreign to our culture are especially active on social media, particularly TikTok. Using modern technology, they deliberately target the unformed minds of children and adolescents, who are not yet able to distinguish between good and evil,his statement reads. 

He further claimed that such content is backed by foreign funding.

Destructive ideas are being introduced into Kazakhstani society through grants to NGOs. This amounts to an attempt to destabilize the country from within and undermine national security,Ashimzhanov said. 

Nine other members of parliament supported his appeal.

In response to the request, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the Ministry of Culture monitors social media platforms around the clock to prevent the spread of inappropriate content among minors.

He added that the Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Security Committee, the Financial Monitoring Agency, the Agency for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Tourism and Sports, Education, and other government bodies are also involved in this effort.

Particular attention is given to identifying content harmful to children’s health and development (materials promoting suicide, pornography, violence, and cruelty, etc.). If violations are found, official warnings are sent to the resource owners. If these are ignored, the content is blocked by court order. In cases where the material contains signs of a crime, relevant evidence (links, screenshots) is forwarded to law enforcement agencies for further action,Kosherbaev said. 

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, 7,179 violations were detected during internet monitoring. As for the study on the influence of the LGBT community on minors, Kosherbaev noted that the Ministry of Culture is still in the process of conducting it.

Once the organizational procedures are completed, the research will move forward with the participation of all interested parties. The results of the study will be discussed with the deputy corps, public associations and experts,he said. 

He added that efforts to reinforce traditional values are already underway.

Several strategic documents have been adopted to support family institutions and youth development, including:

• The Concept of Family and Gender Policy until 2030
• The Concept of State Youth Policy for 2023–2029
• The Concept of Cultural Policy for 2023–2029

In addition, following the President’s directive announced at the National Qurultay on March 14, 2025, the government is developing a comprehensive program titled "Qazaqstan Balalary" (Children of Kazakhstan), which will focus on strengthening traditional family values, protecting children's rights, and expanding social support measures.

Kosherbayev also noted that NGOs receiving foreign funding remain under close government scrutiny.

Working groups have been established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with the UN, OSCE, EU, and USAID. Government bodies have been instructed to coordinate projects and programs funded by foreign organizations with authorized bodies. In the event of a violation of current legislation by non-governmental organizations, regardless of the sources and forms of funding, law enforcement agencies will bring them to administrative and criminal liability to protect the rights and interests of citizens of Kazakhstan, including children and adolescents.he noted. 

Kazakhstan's government agencies had begun examining the psychological and medical effects of LGBT issues on children in November 2024.

Original Author: Aliya Askarova