Freemasonry in Kazakhstan: Mapping a Eurasian Legacy

The “Eurasian” nature of Kazakhstan, a country with a history linked to both the East and the West, is a common trope in academic, journalistic, and philosophical circles.

Rather than focusing on the “nature” of the country and its history, it could be worth looking instead at some of the most interesting contaminations which illustrate this East-West connection. This is the case of Freemasonry in Kazakhstan.

Whether you consider Kazakhstan as part of Soviet Central Asia (along with its closest neighbours, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) or of the wider geographical area of Central Asia (including Xinjiang, parts of Mongolia and Afghanistan), these regional borders cannot confine and define the country’s contemporary cultural identity. Indeed, Kazakhstan could also be considered as part of an even wider region: Eurasia.

This concept is not new. Kazakhstan is perhaps the country where the term “Eurasia” has been used most widely. The ubiquitous moniker is used for universities (Gumilev Eurasian National University – which refers to Lev Gumilev, one of the main proponents of so-called “Eurasianism”), conferences (Eurasian Media Forum), organizations (Eurasian Cultural Foundation), or financial institutions (Eurasian Bank).

The reason that this word is so closely associated with Kazakhstan and not to other countries in Central Asia has to do with a peculiar historical legacy.

It is no coincidence that the annexation of the Kazakh steppe by the Russian Empire in the 18th century is unique in the Central Asian context. It happened before and had significantly different consequences compared to the latter conquest of so-called “Turkestan,” with its emirate and khanates.

“Our goal is to contribute to the creation of a strong civil society where ethics, knowledge and service to society are valued.” – Alpysbay.

The influence of the interactions between the Russian Empire first and the Soviet Union later with the Kazakh nation have strongly shaped Kazakhstan’s identity.

True, Kazakhstan has maintained its deepest connection to Kazakh nomadic culture, adding new ties to a wide range of cultures that have come to inhabit its territory, but its particular position has paved the way to become a true bridge between Central Asian and European cultures, so much so that the term “Eurasian” has become a necessary definition. 

Freemasonry Bridging Two Worlds

Far-fetched as it may seem, Freemasonry provides an excellent example of Kazakhstan’s role as a bridge.

Freemasonry is a typically Western phenomenon, officially born in England with the founding of what is now known as the “United Grand Lodge of England” in 1717 and based on Anderson’s Constitutions of 1723, with deep roots in Western philosophy and spirituality.

In Russia, Freemasonry not long after and soon found fertile ground among the Russian aristocracy and intelligentsia. Russian writers and thinkers such as Novikov, Karamzin, Pushkin, Griboedov, and Radishchev became part of the Masonic phenomenon, like their “brothers” Goethe in Germany or Voltaire and Alexandre Dumas in France.

Freemasonry had a strong influence on Russian culture and intellectual life until it was banned by the more conservative Emperor Alexander I, a ban that was later extended by Nicholas I, because many Decembrists–like most free thinkers of the time–were freemasons.

A brief revival was possible with the 1905 revolution, but with the October Revolution the Bolsheviks put an end to Russian Freemasonry, which only came back to life with the end of the Soviet Union, when the “Grand Lodge of Russia” was established. Through Russia, Freemasonry later reached Kazakhstan.

Despite being a predominantly Muslim country, Kazakhstan is the only country in Central Asia to have not just Freemasonry, but a national “Grand Lodge.” This means that Freemasonry and freemasons are not just present in the country; Kazakhstan has, in fact, its own national Freemasonry. 

Freemasonry is a global organization, based on local jurisdictions. Each of these jurisdictions is governed by a Grand Lodge, which is generally nation-wide. By establishing a Grand Lodge, Kazakhstan has now demonstrated that it has reached maturity in the field of international Masonic relations in order to become an independent actor that no longer requires external support.

Kazakhstan’s Freemasonry is a clear sign of continuity over the Eurasian space, showing how Kazakhstan is a place where different cultures meet and can manifest themselves in a specific form that is neither totally European nor totally Asian.

Indeed, the “Grand Lodge of Kazakhstan” is a national phenomenon, therefore referring exclusively to Kazakhstan as a country, depicting state symbols in its emblems and marks, toasting the country’s president (in the Masonic tradition), and displaying the Koran alongside the Bible among the sacred books on the altar of the temple, thus recognising local religious differences.

As a rule, Freemasonry is also universal, thus placing Kazakhstan inside the network of a “worldwide brotherhood.”

On 19 September 2015, in Almaty, under the patronage of the Grand Lodge of Russia, the country's first Masonic lodge was officially founded. The following year, the Grand Lodge of Kazakhstan (GLK) was established. The opening ceremony of the GLK was attended by guests from Russia, Georgia, and other countries. Berik Zhubaniyaz was installed as the first Grand Master. Today, the GLK continues its activities with its six lodges in Astana and Almaty (plus one wandering lodge), under the guidance of the new Grand Master, Aidar Alpysbay.

“Freemasonry in Kazakhstan today continues its historic mission of working towards the moral improvement of individuals and society. We strive to strengthen a culture of mutual respect, responsibility and honesty, and to support the development of education, humanism and brotherhood among people of different views and backgrounds,” Alpysbay said in an interview.

“Our goal is to contribute to the creation of a strong civil society where ethics, knowledge and service to society are valued. Freemasons in Kazakhstan develop educational and charitable initiatives and create space for dialogue, self-knowledge and personal growth. Our mission is simple: to make people better, and thus to help society become better”.

Photo courtesy oh GLK.

Alikhan Bukeikhan (Wikimedia Commons).

Freemasons in Kazakhstan

The link between Freemasonry and Kazakhstan is much deeper and older than the decade since the foundation of the GLK. This is because the first Kazakh freemasons appeared long before the opening of the first lodge and had a very important and fundamental role in the history of Kazakhstan.

The first Kazakh freemason was the illustrious Alikhan Bukeikhan, a Kazakh politician and publisher, who led the Alash Party and the provisional government of Alash Orda between 1917-1920. Bukeikhan became a freemason in Russia in November 1916 during his political activity. There, he joined the lodge Polyarnaya Zvezda (“Polar Star”), founded in St. Petersburg that same year by French and Scottish freemasons under the patronage of the French Masonic institution “Grand Orient de France.”

On 9 May 1908, at the apartment of politician Vasily Maklakov, the lodge was officially recognised by the Grand Orient de France and Alikhan Bukeikhan was the first Muslim among its members.

Bukeikhan was supported during the most difficult period of his life – both financially and morally – by his brothers, while devoting his entire life to the values of freedom, the fight against oppression and the future of the Kazakh nation.

His life can be seen as the embodiment of the highest values of the Masonic tradition: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. Today, Kazakhstan’s freemasons consider it a great honor to be Bukeikhan’s direct heirs and to proudly continue his Masonic legacy in the country.

The emergence of a new official Grand Lodge could also help develop and carry forward Kazakhstan’s own concept of Masonic ethical commitment in support of state and civic society according to Bukeikhan’s historical legacy.

In his final comment, Grand Master Alpysbai quoted Bukeikhan’s renowned phrase: “We have to build Kazakhstan as a country of justice and equality.”

Achille Rajola Pescarini, doctoral candidate in Religious Studies at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.

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