Kazakhstan: Information on the situation of Jews (update to Response to Information Request KKT13405 of 3 March 1993)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KKT16692.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kazakhstan: Information on the situation of Jews (update to Response to Information Request KKT13405 of 3 March 1993), 1 March 1994, KKT16692.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab0c24.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The National Conference on Soviet Jewry reports that about 18,000 Jews live in Kazakhstan, thus comprising .001 per cent of the total population (1993, F1). The same source reports a number of isolated anti-semitic incidents in 1992 (ibid.).
The Union of Councils for Soviet Jews in Washington also reports a number of anti-semitic incidents which took place in 1991, 1992 and 1993 (4 March 1994).
A representative of the Caucasus Network in New York indicated that generally nationalities, including Jews, are polarized in Kazakhstan (3 Mar. 1994). She reported the following: preference is accorded to ethnic Kazakhs in employment as a result the declaration of Kazakhs as the official state language, discrimination in favour of ethnic Kazakhs in education, where children are asked to state their ethnicity, demands by "Kazakh nationalists" for rejection of Jewish representation during cultural conferences, and incidents of Jews being stoned during gatherings (ibid.). The representative could not provide information as to whether these incidents were sanctioned by the government (ibid.).
Although Country Reports for 1993 does not specifically report incidents involving discrimination against Jews, it corroborates the above information that there is increasing discrimination in favour of ethnic Kazakhs in education and employment, as well as in housing and other areas (1994, 939).
For information on the situation of Jews between August 1991 coup until July 1992 in Kazakhstan, please consult the Question and Answer Series entitled CIS, Baltic States and Georgia: Situation of the Jews which is available at your regional documentation centre.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Caucasus Network, New York. 3 March 1994. Telephone interview with representative.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
National Conference on Soviet Jewry. February 1993. 1993 Winter Information Handbook. New York: ICSJ.
Union of Councils, Washington. 4 March 1994. (Fax sent to the DIRB)
Attachments
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, pp. 938-939.
National Conference on Soviet Jewry. February 1993. 1993 Winter Information Handbook. New York: ICSJ, pp. F-1-F2.
Union of Councils, Washington, DC. 4 March 1994. (Fax sent to the DIRB)