Briefly on our work:

This study examines the extent to which local executive bodies in Kazakhstan comply with legal and normative requirements related to informing citizens about participatory mechanisms of local self-governance, and what explains variation in these practices across localities.

It focuses on communication between local executive bodies (Akimats) and residents at the third sub-national administrative level, particularly in Cities of District Significance (CDS) and Settlements. In these types of localities, participatory mechanisms include local community gatherings and local community meetings, where Akimats are legally required to announce upcoming sessions in advance and provide follow-up information on decisions made. We evaluate these informing practices in accordance with both legal requirements and commonly recognized standards of public communication.

The scope of this study covers all CDS and Settlements across Kazakhstan, and is based on the originally collected dataset of announcement and follow-up posts published by Akimats in 2025, from across official government and social media platforms.

Learn more about our study by attending the Central Eurasian Studies Society Regional 2026 Conference, where we will be presenting (June 16-19).

Research team: Saltanat Tuleuova, Aliya Mustafina, Aldiyar Ramazanov, Dilnaz Sagingaliyeva, Aruzhan Tatvayeva, Aruzhan Bolat, Aiym Kuandyk