The hybrid (online and offline) event in Astana brought together local and international partners, government representatives, and well-known media and civil society experts, all keen to begin actively cooperating within joint national and regional initiatives aimed at building the capacity of content producers and preventing the spread of all forms of information manipulations, disinformation, and hate speech.

The ceremony was opened with the opening remark of Mr Kestutis Jankauskas, Ambassador of the European Union to Kazakhstan:

• European Union partnership with Central Asia needs to maintain a solid foundation built on truthful, fact-based information available to our citizens. This enables us to make correct analysis, take right decisions and navigate increasingly manipulated geopolitical environment. EU supported REVIVE project for Central Asia has helped us to achieve that for couple of years already, and I’m proud today to announce its continuation. 

The Project Director of CARAVAN, Vadim Sadonshoev, thanked the EU for supporting this initiative and emphasized that:

•  On behalf of Internews, I am very glad to see such interest in the project among our partners – independent journalists, media managers, NGO representatives, and members of the international community. Such interest in the project clearly shows that we are not the only ones who see its importance, timeliness, and necessity. On our part, we are committed to doing everything possible to support our colleagues and help them succeed in the project.

The project will be implemented  throughout 2.5 years (or 30 months) in Central Asia, starting from the 1st of April, 2024 and will primarily work with independent media professionals, content creators, civic activists, and CSOs.