Russia accuses digital manipulation of targeting bilateral relations with Kazakhstan

The Russian Foreign Ministry has denounced a deepfake circulating in Kazakh online communities that falsely depicts Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, commenting on Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s meetings at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

According to Caliber.Az, the ministry reported the incident on its official Telegram channel, describing the footage as a manipulation in which Zakharova’s facial expressions and voice were generated by a neural network and superimposed on real video material.

“This is a crude and cynical fake, deliberately planted in the Kazakh digital space,” the ministry said. It added that the purpose of the deepfake is to sow discord between Russia and Kazakhstan.

The Foreign Ministry emphasised that none of the statements in the video are true.

By Tamilla Hasanova