ENC Hosts Two Events on Information Integrity in Central Asia and Kazakh Cultural Heritage
On 13–14 April 2026, the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC) hosted two events in Brussels under the Cultivating Audience Resilience through Amplification of Vibrant and Authentic Narratives (CARAVAN) project, funded by EU and implemented by Internews Europe. Dedicated to policy research and cultural heritage, the two-day programme consisted of two events, together bringing over 120 participants from EU institutions, embassies, think tanks, civil society, academia, and media communities.
Information Integrity in Central Asia: New Research Findings on Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference
On 13 April, ENC presented new research findings on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) in Central Asia. The event opened with remarks from Irène Mingasson, Head of Unit at the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission, and brought together over 50 participants from across policy, research, and media communities.
The study, conducted by ENC in collaboration with Internews, examined Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) trends in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan between October 2025 and February 2026. Using AI-assisted monitoring of over 581,000 social media posts alongside expert interviews and regional consultations, the research provides a detailed analysis of narrative patterns, amplification dynamics, and platform usage.
Following the presentation of the research findings, a panel discussion moderated by Meera Selva (CEO of Internews Europe) took place, featuring Samuel Doveri Vesterbye (ENC), Dmitri Surnin (Strategic Programme Adviser at Internews), Dr. Shairbek Dzhuraev, and Dina Zhansagimova, a media expert from Kazakhstan with Internews. The discussion focused on the need to improve the quality of local media content, emphasizing stronger standards, greater investment, and more support for independent journalism. Closing remarks were delivered by Vadim Sadonshoev, CARAVAN Project Director at Internews Europe.
Read the full report here.
Reclaiming Cultural Identity: Kazakhstan Kui Music — Film Presentation with Live Kui Performance
On 14 April, ENC and Internews hosted a cultural evening at Cinema Galeries, located within the historic Galerie de la Reine, bringing together 70 participants to for the event on Reclaiming Cultural Identity: Kazakhstan Kui Music.
The event opened with a welcome reception featuring remarks by Io Kerstin Schmid, Head of Sector at FPI, European Commission, and Saida Manieva, Regional Programme Manager for Europe and Eurasia at Internews. Opening remarks for the film and performance were delivered by Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Member of the European Parliament and Rapporteur on Uzbekistan, who reflected on the growing importance of EU–Central Asia relations, noting that the European Union is today Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and underlined the role of culture, media, and civil society as integral to this partnership alongside trade and politics.
The centrepiece of the evening was a screening of The Solitary String, a short documentary directed and produced by Annas Bagdat. The film is the culminating work of the 20-episode documentary project Shezhireli Qulaq Küi (Legendary Tuning of the Ear), exploring how Kazakh instrumental music — küi — emerged as a profound form of cultural resistance under Soviet rule. The project reclaims küi not merely as folklore, but as a living archive of memory.
Following the screening, küi practitioner and researcher Rustem Nurkenov, of the Kazakh National University of Arts, offered a live concert performance on the dombyra, explaining musical techniques and the expressive meanings embedded in the tradition. The discussion and closing remarks were moderated by Dina Zhansagimova, Media Expert from Kazakhstan, with a Q&A open to the full audience.
* About CARAVAN
The event is part of the Cultivating Audience Resilience through Amplification of Vibrant and Authentic Narratives (CARAVAN) project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Internews in Central Asia.