Soros Foundation ceases activity in Kazakhstan

The Soros Foundation (the Open Society Foundations founded by George Soros) has ceased activity in Kazakhstan.

It will be transformed into an expert and analytical centre called CAPS (Central Asian policy studies) Unlock.

CAPS Unlock will engage in research on socio-economic inequality, digital democracy, education, climate change, geopolitics, the consequences of the historical path of the region, RBC reports citing a message sent by the Soros Foundation to journalists.

The creation of a regional think tank is part of the global transformation of the Soros Foundation.

The centre's Board of Trustees consists of sociologist from Tajikistan Gulnora Beknazarova, political analyst from Kyrgyzstan Medet Tyulegenov, economist from Uzbekistan Yuli Yusupov, Dean of the College of Humanities and Education at KIMEP University in Kazakhstan Juldyz Smagulova.

The Soros Foundation Kazakhstan in Almaty is a non-governmental charitable organisation founded by Open Society Foundations in 1995. During the reporting period, it received grants worth more than $100 million.

The Soros Foundation supports programmes in the field of education, culture, as well as the arts and health care. It was founded by a billionaire in 1979 and operates in over 120 countries. Forbes estimates Soros' net worth at $6.7 billion.