USAID: "People's Party" Deputies Demand Disclosure of Foreign Aid Reports

During the Majilis session on February 5, deputies from the "People's Party of Kazakhstan" demanded the disclosure of all reports on foreign aid received by Kazakh public organizations, reports Orda.kz.

Deputy Magerram Magerramov called for an investigation into which projects USAID has funded in Kazakhstan.

He addressed the deputy inquiry to Minister of Justice Yerlan Sarsembayev and the head of the Ministry of National Economy, Serik Zhumangaryn.

The Majilis member highlighted expenditures that the White House itself has called "ridiculous:" $47,000 for a "transgender opera" in Colombia, $32,000 for a "transgender comic" in Peru, hundreds of millions for fertilizers to grow opium poppies in Afghanistan, etc.

Magerramov demands disclosure of which projects USAID has funded in Kazakhstan and for what amounts.

In 2022-2025, USAID allocated two million dollars to strengthen human rights and equality in Central Asia. Everything would be fine, but the program implementer is the European International Association of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender and Intersex people. This is an organization implementing US government assistance programs in Kazakhstan. We believe we need to figure out what funds are being allocated, by whom, where and for what purposes, who receives them and what projects they implement in our country, stated the deputy.

Magerramov suspected Kazakh feminists of allegedly holding their "women's marches" and other events using funds from USAID or other foreign organizations. 

According to the deputy, Kazakhstan's society does not need such activities.

However, he noted he has nothing against funding educational, environmental, or children's programs.

This is about financing an ideology alien to us, imposed under the guise of human rights, but in reality corrupting our youth and younger generation, said Magerram Magerramov.

The deputy gained support from his Majilis colleagues - Yedil Zhanyrshin and Rinat Zayitov, who also spoke out against projects allegedly "discrediting the inviolable values" of Kazakhstan's society.

Members of the "People's Party" called for an audit and disclosure of all information about foreign funding of Kazakhstan's public activists.

They also urged the Ministry of Justice to develop a bill to protect children from "harmful sponsorship projects."

USAID has supported Kazakhstan since independence, providing funding for various projects.

Over these years, funds have gone to support civil society, local governance development, renewable energy, and digital services.

USAID Projects in Kazakhstan and Central Asian countries:

• "Effective Governance Support Initiative" - $6.9 million. The project, also implemented by the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (FECA), aims to support NGOs in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan
• "Participatory Governance - Shared Responsibility" - a four-year project launched in February 2024 for local government development in Pavlodar, Jetisu, Ulytau region,s and WKR
• Civil Society Support Program in Central Asia - a five-year project to develop civil institutions worth $18 million
• Renewable Energy Sources - USAID funds projects for renewable energy integration into Kazakhstan's power system for $39 million
• Digital Technologies and Computer Services - the agency cooperates with government bodies in digitalization
• Kazakhstan Youth Study - a research project analyzing social behavior and preferences of youth

Additionally, USAID has participated in several other programs, including business support, social initiatives, and educational projects.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny