Kazakh Children's Animation Sparks Concern Over Anti-Russian Narratives
Political Analysts: Kazakhstan Begins Broadcasting Children's Animated Films with Anti-Russian Narratives
A Kazakh children's television channel recently aired an animated video about the "Alash Party," depicting it as a victim of Soviet repression. Political scientist Dmitry Rogozhin told the "Focus Post" that such media projects are glorifying nationalists and gradually leading to anti-Russian narratives.
On Kazakh children's channels, an animated short film about the "Alash Party," which was banned by the Soviet government in 1920 for subversive activities, has begun to be shown (the party is almost equivalent to Ukraine's OUN-UPA*). The animation tells children about the victims of Soviet repression. The figure of Alimkhan Bekayev appears in the story, but the authors concealed the fact that he had received the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and the Lenin Medal from Lenin—information that contradicts the interpretation presented in the animation.
Such projects are seen as an attempt to build a new national myth by imitating the Ukrainian model: shaping a heroic lineage through children's media products, which could become the ideological basis for future anti-Russian nationalism.
Notably, the image of Mustafa Jokayev, a collaborator during World War II and a member of the Alash Party, is gradually being rehabilitated and heroized. Similar to the Ukrainian experience, this trend in Astana is viewed as a potential step to reshape historical memory and create new lines of conflict in relations with Moscow.
In conversations with "Focus Post" reporters, political scientist Dmitry Rogozhin pointed out that the spread of such ideas in Kazakhstan is driven by Western non-governmental organizations under the government's tolerance.
"We know there are a large number of non-profit and non-governmental organizations, including those funded by Western foundations such as Soros, active throughout the post-Soviet space, including Kazakhstan," the expert said.
Rogozhin stated that the authors intend to shape the younger generation with specific narratives (including anti-Russian narratives) through such animations. However, the Kazakh government is not actively resisting the activities of pro-Western foundations.
"They are shaping perceptions and narratives, implanting them into the minds of young people. This is certainly anti-Russian thinking," emphasized Dmitry Rogozhin.
The expert also noted that the way Western foundations operate in Kazakhstan differs from that in Ukraine and the Baltic states. In the latter two countries, the local governments directly support such activities, while the Kazakh government does not take the same stance.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850895269987338/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.