Interview by Nikita Vlasov exclusively for Vestnik Kavkaza
The Kazakhstani Path - Strategy-2050 Forum opened in Astana. It was organized by the Congress of Politologists of Kazakhstan public association. Scientists, teachers, experts and political analysts discussed further consolidation of politological and sociological communities, development of scientific standards that would improve the role of Kazakh political and sociological sciences to realize the Kazakhstan-2050 Strategy. According to Kazakhstani expert Marat Shibutov, only 50% of users of Kaznet are Kazakhstanis. Andrey Karpov, deputy director of the MSU IAC, has commented on the latest trends in post-Soviet space.
- Alexey Mikhailovich, how would you comment on data that 50% of Kaznet users are Kazakhstanis, while Russians and Ukrainians are very active, and network communication between Kazakhstanis and Azerbaijanis has recently activated?
- It is an important trait to understanding the latest trends. There is an active information struggle online. Ukraine and Russia are the main parties involved in it. Kaznet is becoming a battlefield. If Russia shows reflection, a response to accusations, our, let's say, opponents are obtruding certain attitudes, views, approaches to evaluating the situation. Users of social networks on RK actively joining the polemic have to choose between "Red" or "White." Maybe even subconsciously, from a minute of sympathy or apathy towards what the interlocutor, for example, from the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy writes.
That is how "activation" of the Kazakh or, in another case, the Azerbaijani public field viewing the Ukrainian conflict as "its own war" happens but gradually engaging in the conflict. Thank God, only on social networks.
Ukrainian "friends" well-trained in propaganda work are the most active in this aspect, especially in Kazakhstan.
We can see something similar in communications between part of the Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani network users. There is a lot less of an anti-Russian component but many more topics associated with Turkic solidarity. There are a lot more stories about the Karabakh topic. But just as in the situation with Kazakhstan, representatives of the diaspora living in Ukraine, the West, in Germany first of all, are the most active participants in discussions. There are such radical comments that make haqqin.az look like an example of non-partisanship and balance.
So speaking about information on social networks as a "natural product" is ridiculous. The West is running a purposeful no-holds-barred agitation campaign. But judging by the data given by Marat Shibutov, the majority of Kazakhstani society has not reacted to it. It is less politicized, harder to involve in the anti-Russian campaign. Concerning the reaction of Azerbaijani users, I am not that good with the topic. Most communications are in the Azerbaijani language.
- Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have recently seen events organized by the Ukrainian embassy. It is a sort of "presentation" of the official position of the Ukrainian government. At an event in Astana, an attendee of the meetings proposed the following, I quote: "I would like more than just Russian television to be in our information space. At least one leading Ukrainian channel could have been added to the ID TV package, for example. In order to get news firsthand, as they say." Is the fight for control over information entering a new phase?
- The principles for picking experts and topics for discussions at such events are absolutely obvious, you do not need to be smart as a whip to know that. If we look at the information space of post-Soviet states, the role and influence of the Russian media is greater than, for example, the Ukrainian media. But it is also a question of language. Most Kazakhstanis speak the Russian language. The problem of content quality has been discussed several times and I will not return to the topic.
The consumer will orient themselves toward more conventional channels than the TV of Moldova or Turkmenistan. I note that there are series, humour and pop shows, not just information.
Concerning the South Caucasus, as far as I know, Russia and Azerbaijan are negotiating exchange of TV channels for broadcasting. In other words, we still return to the problem of mutual information knowledge straight from the source.
