Russian Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan: Activist Talks About the Influence of the FSB's Ideological Branch

Ukrainian activist Turarbek Kusainov accused the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) of having a significant influence on Kazakhstan. He emphasized that the ROC has a strong impact on the countries of Central Asia, and the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan plays the role of an ideological and propaganda branch of the Russian special services. The activist expressed dissatisfaction with the ban on holding a picket against the arrival of Patriarch Kirill, whom he considers a cause of bloodshed in Ukraine.Turarbek Kusainov highlighted that the ROC has a considerable influence on the Orthodox population of Northern Kazakhstan through Russian mass propaganda, which poses a threat to the independence and identity of the country. The activist sees this as a problem due to the internet, where people seek the foundation of their identity through an ideological vacuum.