Political parties in Kazakhstan   Kazakhstan political parties, NGO and Media

The development of non-governmental organizations is one of the most significant achievements. They carry out a role of intermediaries between the State and citizens, commit many functions of social transformations in the society, contribute a lot to various areas of social life: human rights, democracy, election, ecology, equal rights of women in the society, consumer rights, youth rights, lonely mothers and families with many children, orphans, invalids, victims of illegal reprisals, etc.

More than 4500 non-governmental organizations are functioning in the country today, solving social problems and promoting more active involvement of citizens in the society's democratization processes. About 35 thousand individuals are permanently employed by NGO, 50 thousand are temporary employed as experts and more than 100 thousand individuals act as volunteers. At the first stage of the development, non-governmental organizations existed basically on foreign grants. During this time, more than 500 non-governmental organizations were established. These non-governmental organizations were aimed basically at civil rights protection.

The 1998 Program of democratization of the country increased the role of non-governmental organizations as key element of democratization of Kazakhstan society. Conditions of non-governmental sector development have changed cardinally today. The comprehension of the important role of this social institute by the society is progressing now. The quality of organizational and practical support by the state of non-governmental organizations acquires now a special meaning.

In 2001 the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On not-for-profit organizations" was adopted and became a real step towards the recognition of the role and place of non-governmental organizations. Registration of the non-governmental organizations was greatly simplified.

The Concept of the State support of the non-governmental organizations was adopted in January 2002. It determines the purposes and priorities of the state support of the non-governmental organizations. Recognized leaders of non-governmental sector, as well as representatives of international organizations (UNDP, TASIS and Counterpart Consortium) took part in the development of the Concept.

The Resolution of the Government of Republic of Kazakhstan "On the Program of the state support of non-governmental organizations of Republic of Kazakhstan for 2003-2005 years", was adopted in 2003. The purpose of the Program of the state support to non-governmental organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the creation of conditions for sustainable development of non-governmental organizations as an indispensable part of the civil society and strengthening of their role in resolving significant social problems of the society on the basis of interaction with the Government. Development of the new Laws "On non-governmental organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan" and "On the State social order" has begun. Laws are aimed at the formation of the new model of relations in realization of the social policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, creation of steady and effective system of relations between the state and public sector, maintenance the legal basis of activity of non-governmental organizations and carrying out of the State social order by them on a competitive basis.

A capable information market has been developed in Kazakhstan by today. One can refer to appearance of a prevailing sector of non-governmental mass media, considerable diversity of information theme field, creation and activity of large media companies.

If by 1990 only 10 national newspapers and magazines were published and 21 TV and radio stations broadcast, as of July 1, 2004, 2041 mass media bodies exist, including 1211 newspapers, 477 magazines, 124 TV and radio stations, 15 news agencies and 159 electronic media outlets. 85% of media outlets in Kazakhstan are non-governmental ones.

Public associations own 159 media outlets, 11 publications belong to political parties and movements, and religious associations own 10. The media market is characterized by considerable theme diversity. Political newspapers and magazines as well as information, advertising, entertaining, religious, women's, youth's, children's, technical and many other special publications are issued.

The newspapers and magazines are published and TV and radio stations broadcast in 11 languages. Besides the main ones that are Kazakh and Russian they include Ukrainian, Polish, English, German, Korean, Uygur, Turkish, Dungan, etc. These ethnic minorities' mass media outlets are provided with government financial support. Internet, air-cable and cable TV are rapidly developing. Up-to-date technologies are widely used in the information market - national TV and radio stations broadcast via national satellite TV system, Kazakhstan TV and radio broadcasters widely use digital technology, the international CaspioNet satellite channel (the operator is Eutelsat) was opened in 2002. Programs of the BBC, CNN, Deutsche Welle, Freedom Radio Station, Polish TV Polonia, Russian and other TV channels are widely telecast. Over 80 representatives of foreign mass media from 20 countries including the largest news agencies such as the BBC, Associated Press, Interfax, France Press, Xinhua, Reuters, ITAR-TASS, Bridge news, etc. are accredited in Kazakhstan.

This diversity of companies and languages promote rapid development of the Kazakhstan mass media and create a unique palette of the information field in Kazakhstan. A liberal and democratic government information policy is a basis for these processes. The main mechanisms of the policy are: - legal guaranties and practical insurance of the principles of freedom of speech, free receiving and spreading of information, censorship prohibition; - continuing improvement of legal framework of mass media activity; - annual placing of budget financed government order for implementation of the government information policy. A right to get this order is assigned through a contest among mass media bodies irrespective of their ownership. This measure allowed to create equal conditions for receiving government financial support by both government and non-government press consequently encouraging their creative activity and business initiative; - transparent process of receiving frequencies for TV and radio broadcasting.

The Commission on providing rights for radio frequency use comprises representatives of the Parliament, international and Kazakhstan public associations. Activity of the Commission is widely covered by the mass media; - creation of economic conditions for mass media growth. All the publications and TV stations are exempted from VAT.

Charges for use of radio frequency decrease almost every year; - continuing and constructive cooperation with public associations, international organizations, media research institutes in the area of mass media development. Journalists rights associations such as the Journalists Congress of Kazakhstan, Journalists Union of Kazakhstan, TV and radio broadcasters Association of Kazakhstan, offices of international organizations (the OSCE, Human Rights Watch, Internews network, Adil Soz, etc.) fruitfully work in Kazakhstan; - close attention to journalists development. To this end every year the government provides grants and loans for education in this field, a TV Journalism School was established. An important event in the area of mass media was creation of a Public Council on Mass Media (information policy). This entity comprises MPs, the Chairman of the Board of the Journalists Union of Kazakhstan, President of the TV and radio broadcasters Association of Kazakhstan, Editors-in-Chief and journalists of leading mass media bodies. At the moment a new Law on Mass Media that is aimed at further improvement of journalist's rights protection and accordance of information law of Kazakhstan with international standards and practice is being developed.

In Kazakhstan there are 9 officially registered political parties.

Agrarian party of Kazakhstan

The head of the party - Madinov Romin Rizovich. The party was registered the 16 of March 1999. There 60 000 members of this party. The party has structural subdivisions in 12 regions, cities, in Astana and Almaty. Social basis of the party is rural commodity producers, farmers, petty proprietors, rural cooperatives and partnerships.
Party goals:
- protection of the agrarian workers political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights and interests;
- active participation in political life of the society;
- influence the formation of political will of peasants, village inhabitants;
- participation in the elections to the central and local state bodies;
- to promote economic development of agrarian branch, social status and people's living standards improvement.
At the elections to Majilis (lower Chamber of Parliament) 19 September 2004 the Agrarian party participated within Agrarian industrial union of workers. They got 7.07% of votes.

Civil party of Kazakhstan
First secretary of the party - Peruashev Azat Turlybekovich.
The party was registered the 29th of December 1999. There are 100 thousands of members of the party.
The party has branches in every region, in Astana and Almaty. Social basis is representatives of industrial enterprises, workers, engineers.
Party goals are:
- statehood strengthening and development;
- formation legal state principals;
- equality in the eye of the law;
- purification of state bodies from the corrupt civil servants;
- to bring the law and order in all spheres of state and public life;
- the business expansion;
- strengthening material well-being and social status of citizen and family. At single mandate district Party conducted to the Malilis deputies 14 own members.

The democratic party of Kazakhstan "Ak zhol"
The head of the party is Baimenov Alikhan Mukhamedievich.
The party was registered the 3 of March 2004. There 172 thousands of members.
Party goals: independent, flourishing, democratic and free Kazakhstan.
Fundamental values: democracy, independence, freedom and justice.
The party "Ak zhol" is one of initiators of the creation of 3 parties Coordination council (DVK, KPK and Ak zhol) in order to unique candidate nomination from the opposition at the 2006 presidential elections.
The party actively participates in conciliation commissions among the opposition on recommendations drafting on further democratization of Kazakhstan.
At Majilis elections the party got 12.04% of votes. In Majilis there are two mandates of the party.

Democratic party of Kazakhstan The party is headed by Narikbayev Maksyt Sultanovich. The party was registered the 14th of June 2004. There are 60.1 thousands of members. The party has its branches at all regions of Kazakhstan. The principal goal is to build in Kazakhstan legal democratic social state; to create effective and developed economic system, formation of civil society. There is one deputy in Majilis. During the elections to Majilis received 0.76% of votes.

The Communist party of Kazakhstan

The party is headed by Abdyldyn Serykbolsun Abdyldaevich.
Registered the 28th of February 1994, reregistered the 17th of February 1997. There are 100 thousands of members. Represented in all regions of Kazakhstan. Members are war and labour veterans, workers, and pensioners.
Principal goals: create the conditions in order to build the society of freedom and social justice based on principles of scientific socialism; to build communist system. The party is oppositional.
At the Majilis elections 2004 Communist party got 3.44% of votes, has no mandates in Parliament.

Communist national party of Kazakhstan

First secretary is Kosarev Vladislav.
Registered the 21st of June 2004. There 70 thousands of members.
Workers, students, intelligentsia, pensioners, unemployed and entrepreneurs support the party. The activity is based on Marxist-Lenin ideology adapted to the actual conditions of social development.
During the elections to Majilis in 2004 the party got 1.98% of votes. It has not deputies in Majilis.
Republican political party "Otan"
The party is headed by Zhumagulov Bahitzhan.
The party was registered in February 1999.
There are approximately 200 thousands of members.
"Otan" is represented in all regions, in Astana and Almaty.
Social basis is civil servants, students, creative and scientific intelligentsia, entrepreneurs. Party goals:
- to contribute to economic and political reforms;
- raise the people's living standards;
- establishment of social stability and reservation of state stability;
- strengthening of international and inter confessional accord;
There are 53 deputies from this party in Parliament.

Republican political party "Asar"
The head of the party is Nazarbayeva Dariga Nursultanovna. It was registered in December 2003. There are approximately 200 thousands of members.
"Asar" declares to build economically strong, democratic, legal and social state with developed institutions of civil society, deepening democratic transformations, kazakhstani's welfare improvement.
During the elections to Majilis the party got 11.38% and has four deputies in Parliament.

"Ruhaniyat" party (spirituality)
The party is headed by Zhaganova Altynshash Kairzhanovna.
The party was registered the 6th of October 2003. There are 53931 members.
Social basis is education, public health, science and culture spheres workers, civil servants, administrative and engineers personnel of the companies, entrepreneurs, students.
Party goals:
economy raise, resolving of social issues, development of the society of high morals and spiritual wealth. They would play the shaft role between executive power and people. They got 0.44% of votes and have no deputy in Parliament.

Joint project of OrexCA.com and KTA & KAGIR. Information is taken from CD "All about tourism in Kazakhstan"