Bullying has become a powerful tool influencing the public consciousness of Kazakhstan. This is the viewpoint of the well-known blogger Kirill Pavlov:
Informational Labyrinths of Kazakh Society
In the past few days, the borders of Kazakhstan’s information landscape converged at a single point, creating a resonant effect that, like waves on water, spread throughout the country. The case of Ali Okapov, a singer who turned down a high state award due to severe online bullying, has exposed deep rifts in the structure of public opinion, highlighting the urgency of the bullying problem in Kazakhstan. The country’s information space seems to have become an arena where destructive forces find fertile ground to grow.
Bullying, as a reflection of collective consciousness, has transformed into a real information weapon, as potent as the words of the great Abai, who criticized harassment and bullying while recalling the history of the philosopher Socrates. Just like in those times, the harassment of creative individuals continues to exist, despite progress and enlightenment. Increasingly, information aggressors and provocateurs in Kazakhstan’s digital sphere use bullying as a tool to achieve their selfish objectives, creating an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty.
Notably, Imanbek, another singer at the center of this public turmoil, supported Okapov, emphasizing the complexity and multifaceted nature of the problem. On one hand, this demonstrates solidarity within the creative class; on the other hand, it underscores issues of misunderstanding and the gap between the public and the creative elite.
The Technology of Bullying
Bullying has become a platform for those seeking cheap popularity and conditional influence. This trend can be dangerous, especially when considering the possibility of external players seeking to influence Kazakhstan’s domestic politics. From simple bullying to physical violence, there is only one step, and crossing this line may be surprisingly easy in conditions of escalating aggression in the information space.
The issue of bullying is no longer news, but the case of Ali Okapov has taken it to a new level of discussion, showing that it is time to seek solutions to this problem on a national level. Bullying, as a mirror of sociocultural processes, reflects the complex interplay of interests, fears, and ambitions in contemporary Kazakh society. It has become a sort of barometer measuring atmospheric pressure within the social body of the country, and perhaps this is an opportunity for society to recognize and heal its ailments.
