"Tool of Colonization": Publisher Speaks about Russia's Influence on Kazakhstan's Book Market

Publisher Bakytzhan Bukarbay spoke at a Majilis meeting about the risk associated with Russia's growing influence on Kazakhstan's book market. In his opinion, Russian publishing houses' products are "an instrument of colonization," Orda.kz reports.

At a meeting of the Majilis, the publisher said that many Russian publishing houses have moved to Kazakhstan due to sanctions, causing concern in the local book industry.

In connection with Russia's war against Ukraine, we have a number of problems, because their (Russian - Ed.) publishing houses have registered with us. Here the state must protect its own market. Protectionism should work specifically to protect Kazakhstan's publishing houses, said Bakytzhan Bukarbay.

He says Kazakhstan's publishing houses cannot compete with Russian ones, which receive state subsidies:

Russian publications are sold through marketplaces for 600-700 tenge. While the average price of a Kazakhstani book is about 5,000 tenge. The Russian state subsidizes its publishing houses, and only because of this their books can be five times cheaper, noted Bakytzhan Bukarbay.

Kazakhstan's publishing houses have made some progress over the past eight years, and their market share is 15%.

Russian publishing houses are capturing our market. This is also one of the instruments of colonization, I believe. I would like to see attention paid to this aspect, added the publisher. 

Original Auhtor: Zhadra Zhulmukhametova