WASHINGTON, Jan 7 American grants «for the development of democracy» for Kazakhstani non-profit organizations could play role in organizing the current protests in the republic, said Vice-President of the Eurasian Center Earl Rasmussen. «civil society and the rule of law.» The total number of civil society organizations, which are mainly funded by the US and European countries, is estimated in the country at 38 thousand, «RIA Novosti told RIA Novosti. 
Western and Turkish centers of influence split Kazakhstan, said in the State Duma. According to him, «according to the official version, the unrest began due to economic difficulties: the lifting of control over gas prices led to an increase in prices.» «If these are real reasons, perhaps we should rebel,» he said. He noted that despite the restoration of price controls, violence continues on the streets of the republic. “Moreover, it is difficult to understand if there is some real organizer or some kind of structure, but most of the demands seem to come from opposition forces from abroad,” he said. “These demands are documented in several sources — release political prisoners, the resignation of the government, withdrawal from agreements with Russia, «- added the interlocutor of the agency. He emphasized the important strategic interest for Russia in the situation in Kazakhstan — a common border, a large ethnic population, Russian space objects in Baikonur, membership in the EAEU, the key position of the republic in China's One Belt, One Road project. «I find it interesting that the riots were coordinated in some way in the country during Orthodox Christmas and just before the security dialogue between the US and Russia,» he said. 
The President of Kazakhstan Explained Why There Will Be No Talks with Terrorists Rasmussen noted that organizations such as the American Agency for International Development (USAID), the American Bar Association (ABA), the National Endowment for Democracy NED, the government-sponsored non-profit research institute Freedom House and The State Department's Bureau of Human Rights and Labor in March 2021 on its website announced its intention to distribute $ 750,000 in grants to organizations interested in developing «responsive governance» in Kazakhstan. Applications were accepted until the end of May last year, and a number of grants were reportedly distributed in 2020 through the independent non-profit National Endowment for Democracy. Tens of thousands of dollars in grants for «promoting the idea of protecting freedom of assembly», «informing citizens of Kazakhstan about their rights», «promoting democratic values among youth» totaled more than $ 1 million, while $ 41,000 was allocated for increasing the ability of activists in the republic to formulate government policy and promote public discussion of issues. The organization did not respond to RIA Novosti's request for data for 2021. USAID also states its goals to support civil society in Kazakhstan. As stated on the organization's website, «limited government accountability weakens democratic institutions in the republic,» and the agency creates a democratic culture by encouraging the protection of human rights. 
The Federation Council warned the United States against interfering in Kazakhstan's affairs Mass protests in Kazakhstan began in the early days of 2022 — residents of the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau in the west of the country opposed a two-fold increase in prices for liquefied gas. Later, the protests spread to other cities, including Alma-Ata, the old capital and the largest city of the republic: looting began there, militants attacked state institutions, took away weapons. In response, the authorities declared a state of emergency across the country until January 19 and launched a counter-terrorism operation. According to the UN, about 1,000 people were injured during the protests in Kazakhstan. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic, 18 security officials were killed. On the morning of January 5, Kazakh President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev dismissed the government and headed the Security Council. At the first meeting of the Security Council under his leadership, Tokayev described the situation in Kazakhstan as undermining the integrity of the state and said that he had asked the CSTO for help «in overcoming the terrorist threat.» The CSTO Collective Security Council decided to send collective peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan to normalize the situation in the country. On January 7, Tokayev announced that terrorists, including those who arrived from abroad, continued to resist, and promised to destroy those who did not lay down their arms. In addition, the President noted that all the demands of citizens, expressed in peaceful forms, were heard. Follow the situation in Kazakhstan in the online report & gt; & gt; 
The State Duma announced that the events in Kazakhstan were provoked by a mixture of factors
