"On the influence of the escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the insulting statements of Kirill Bozhna on the interethnic situation in Kazakhstan"

On September 30, in Nur-Sultan, an online expert meeting "Ethnopolitical Discourse: On the Impact of the Escalation in Nagorno-Karabakh on the Interethnic Situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Offensive Statements of Kirill Bozhko" was held.

The event was attended by members of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan - deputies of the Mazhilis Akhmet Muradov and Narine Mikaelyan, Chairman of the Association of Azerbaijanis of Kazakhstan Abilfas Khamedov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the Development of Interethnic Relations of the IIOR of the Republic of Kazakhstan Galym Shoikin, members of the Scientific Expert Council of the ANC and the expert group of the Institute of Applied Ethnopolitical Research, representatives of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Institute of State History of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science, and the Nur Otan Institute for Public Policy.

The organizers of this meeting were the Institute of Applied Ethnopolitical Research, KRMO MIOR RK and ANC.

In their speech, MP Narine Mikaleyan and Chairman of the Association of Azerbaijanis of Kazakhstan Abilfas Khamedov noted that the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh had no impact on the friendly relations between Armenians and Azerbaijanis in Kazakhstan. The speakers expressed their hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the near future.

Deputy of the Mazhilis Akhmed Muradov drew attention to the humanitarian consequences of military clashes, where the most severe losses are incurred by civilians and families are suffering. The meeting participants, for their part, noted the importance of adhering to international resolutions and the need for the negotiation process.

Discussing the issue of a resonant video on the YouTube channel with the participation of Kirill Bozhko, experts spoke about the inadmissibility of such statements. Opinions were expressed that this fact should be regarded as a provocation. The participants in the meeting believe that there should be a legal assessment by the competent authorities and it is obvious that there is corpus delicti. It is necessary to clearly demonstrate your principled position and strengthen the work so that such provocative statements do not have further dissemination in social networks.

In addition, the experts noted the growing need for media literacy training of citizens. Modern conditions lead to the need to introduce legal norms providing for the prevention of such situations in order to preserve public safety.

Edil Ospan, deputy director of the Nur Otan Institute for Public Policy, believes that this is the result of an information war, where all the consumers of this video, as well as Kirill Bozhko himself, became victims. According to him, it is necessary to revise the legal framework and bring it in line with the changed situation. It is important to instill in society the ideas of an inclusive society, perception and respect for different people and opinions, and develop a culture of dialogue.

According to the organizers, the format of the expert platform for ethnopolitical discourse will become regular and will be aimed at an open discussion of issues of interethnic relations.