TASS director general proposes enhancing Russia-Kazakhstan ties in combating fakes

Lead

At the third Russian-Kazakhstani Media Forum in St. Petersburg, Russian officials emphasized the importance of closer media ties and proposed concrete steps for cooperation in countering disinformation. Alexander Smirnov, head of the Russian presidential administration for public relations and communications, and TASS Director General Andrey Kondrashov both addressed the forum's plenary session on August 3, highlighting the strategic value of collaboration between the two countries' media and fact-checking communities.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this event comes from TASS, Russia's state news agency, which provided multiple dispatches from the forum. The agency's coverage focuses on the cooperative and invitational tone of the Russian officials' remarks, with emphasis on the shared goals of Russian and Kazakh media and the need for joint efforts to combat misinformation.

Key Claims

Importance of media cooperation

Smirnov stressed that close cooperation between Russian and Kazakhstani media reflects the high level of allied relations between the two countries. "The global situation is becoming more complex every year," he said, noting that reliable information and cultural ties have taken on special strategic value. He added that the Russian-Kazakh Media Forum, which has been held for three years, has become a platform for trusting and constructive contacts between leading media of both nations.

Invitation to join GFCN

Smirnov also invited Kazakhstan to join the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN), an international platform for countering fakes established by TASS and ANO Dialog Regions. He said that Russian and Kazakh media are "ideologically close" and perform common tasks, adding that Moscow would welcome Kazakhstan's participation.

Proposal for agreement with Kazakhstan's disinformation center

Kondrashov called for signing an agreement between the GFCN and Kazakhstan's Center for Combating Disinformation, which operates under the country's president. "I think this is the most important thing we need to help each other with — to defend each other from attempts to distort both facts and historical truth," he said. Kondrashov noted that the GFCN currently includes about 120 organizations from more than 50 countries and is available to any user.

Background on the forum and GFCN

The first Russia-Kazakhstan Media Forum was held at TASS headquarters in Moscow in November 2024, marking the 120th anniversary of the agency. The second meeting took place in Almaty. According to TASS, the GFCN was established in 2025 by TASS, ANO Dialog Regions, and the New Media Workshop. More than 95 foreign journalists, investigators, and organizations from 47 countries are already cooperating with the network in the field of fact-checking.