Country close to Russia moves away from Russian language
Photo: Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Kazakhstan plans to change how Russian is described in its draft constitution, according to the Center for Countering Disinformation.
The current wording, stating that Russian is used "on an equal basis" with Kazakh, is set to be replaced with "alongside Kazakh." While the change is largely formal, it reflects the Kazakh authorities’ policy of reducing Russia’s influence on life in the country.
"Kazakh is de facto becoming the country’s primary language. In public administration, education, and the public sphere, the use of Kazakh is increasingly prevailing over Russian,” the center states.
The center notes that since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kazakhstan has been distancing itself from Moscow not just in humanitarian matters. For example, in December, Kazakhstan closed loopholes that had allowed Russia to launder money and bypass sanctions through local banks.
"While the Kremlin remains focused on its war against Ukraine, Russia continues to lose its positions in Central Asia," the center emphasized.
For context, Russia has been carrying out large-scale Russification in temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine, expecting that by 2036, 95% of the population will identify as Russian.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Parliament approved a resolution changing the formats of Ukrainian passports, including for travel abroad. From now on, passport entries will no longer include the Russian language.
