What foreigners are prohibited from doing in Kazakhstan

The Republic of Kazakhstan is becoming an increasingly attractive tourist destination – beautiful, untouched nature: mountains, steppes, canyons, forests, rivers, lakes... Wonderful, hospitable people and delicious national cuisine. Prices are attractive, and tourist services are constantly evolving.

But there are taboos

Kazakhstan is a multinational country, with people of various religious denominations, but primarily Muslims. Traditionally, it is peaceful, and in fact, the majority of the population is atheist – a legacy of the USSR. The country is secular, not religious; nevertheless, national customs and traditions are very important here.

First: in Kazakhstan, it is forbidden to exalt one nationality and disparage others – nationalism is unacceptable both by ordinary people and by government policy. Violations in this area can result in both administrative and criminal penalties!

Try to avoid such topics, don't initiate such conversations yourself, and if someone displays nationalism (no matter their nationality), it's best to leave, recording the incident with your phone camera (it might come in handy).

Second: attitudes toward women. There are some nuances here, but one thing is certain: be very tactful and don't approach girls and women with indecent proposals. Residents of the republic may use physical force to defend the honor and dignity of their women!

Third: behave politely, with restraint, and dignity. Don't shout loudly, wave your arms, or draw undue attention to yourself. Arrogant attitudes are not tolerated here, nor is servility respected. Kazakhs can be overly emotional; simply smile politely and say, "I'm a foreign tourist."

Fourth: safety - overall, the Republic of Kazakhstan is quite safe, with a below-average crime rate. If you find yourself in a difficult situation, don't be afraid to ask for help loudly – ​​say "Help! Help Me!" – and there's a 99% chance that passersby, people of all nationalities, will come to your aid. They'll protect you, give you something to drink, feed you, call for medical help, and even call the police.

As anywhere, there are scammers here too – and this is a serious problem. So be careful, and if such an incident occurs, contact the police immediately.

The East is a delicate matter...

There's a saying that the East and Asia are truly a world apart. They have their own laws and their own ideas of good and evil. Kazakhstan is generally a prosperous country. Since the Soviet era, it has been quite developed, and therefore the majority of the native population are educated and cultured people who value knowledge and have a good sense of humor. They are not vindictive and are welcoming.

Welcome to Kazakhstan!

P.S. If you have any questions or clarifications, please write to me using the feedback form; I'll be sure to answer you!

Mikhail Dmitrienko, Almaty

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