Proposed Amendment in Kazakhstan Seeks to Ban Tobacco Company Charitable Activities

According to a report by the Kazakhstani media outlet Zakon on December 11th, some lawmakers in Kazakhstan have proposed amending regulations to prohibit domestic tobacco companies from engaging in charitable activities. The proposed provision is planned to be added to Kazakhstan's regulations on citizen health and medical systems.

Some experts and non-governmental organizations have expressed opposition to this new regulation, noting that this amendment has never been discussed before: neither working groups, the government, nor experts have analyzed this provision that was suddenly added to the bill.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Kazakhstan has not provided any opinions or made any adjustments to the possible impact analysis of this regulation on the charitable activities of tobacco companies in civil society, as required by legislation.

It is worth noting that the ban on charitable activities goes against the clear intentions of Kazakhstani President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, as per his message to the people of Kazakhstan. He emphasized the need for both international and domestic companies operating in the country to strengthen their social corporate responsibility initiatives.

The strict ban on charity activities has sparked strong resistance from non-governmental organizations. They have submitted their reasons for opposing the prohibition on tobacco companies engaging in philanthropy to Tamara Duisenova, Assistant to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Erlan Koshanov, Chairman of the Kazakhstani Parliament, and Marat Sultangaziev, Governor of Almaty Province.

Asel Bekhozhaeva, the leader of the civic foundation "Bolashak," highlighted in one of the letters that there are two major tobacco production companies in Almaty Province. Throughout their entire presence in the market, the total amount of their charitable contributions has exceeded $20 million.

All of these companies' charitable projects have significant social implications, including providing education and social adjustment assistance for people with disabilities, offering education and employment opportunities for the unemployed, providing financial aid to World War II veterans, and establishing inclusive education resource centers for children with special education needs. If this amendment is passed by Parliament, it will severely hinder the much-needed funding for charitable organizations in Kazakhstan. The representatives' desires will only cause confusion," she said.