“We can’t keep silent when Russian skinheads kill Kazakhs”,

says activist of the “Bolashak”, Kazakh youth organization, presenting a new magazine at the press-conference.

“Bolashak” is a well-known youth organization in Kazakhstan. They often hold actions in support of the rights of youth and promote national ideas. Financial support from influential sources and comprehensible concept give them a good opportunity to work openly. The movement’s deputy chairman Dauren Babamuratov says:

“We are not satisfied with the coverage of our campaigns in mainstream media. Sometimes they seem to misunderstand our goals. So we decided to create our own magazine and newspaper”

The magazine is called “Alash, ult patriottaryning zhalgasy” [Alash, a new generation of young patriots - Kaz.]. The magazine will cover socially important issues of the students’ life, and it will be produced by them. It will be published in three languages (Kazakh, Russian and English). The main goal is to involve youth in active socio-political life of the Kazakhstani society.

“There is a lot of youth magazines in Kazakhstan, but Kazakh-speaking youth is not interested in serious editions. So we try to give them information about the Kazakh students’ life abroad, create a ranking of the best universities, put a focus on bribery in educational system”,

says an editor of the magazine.

“Of course, we can’t solve all problems of the youth. But we would like to tell the society about them”,

says the “Bolashak” representative.

“Bolashak” is also planning to organize a special conference on the issue of skinheads in Russia in late March. The conference is to bring together young people from other Central Asian countries and Russian diplomats.

Additional editing by Adam Kesher