Almaty is the former capital of Kazakhstan, a beautiful city characterized by wide boulevards separated by flower beds, twin towers, shimmering high-rises of copper and glass, and impressive statues. Kazakhstan, declared independent in , has drawn attention from foreign investors for its rich energy resources. All of these activities from outside investors do two things: ensure swift development and maintain the status quo of corrupt governments.
And where industry springs up, prostitution soon follows, to meet both the demand for workers as well as the demand for high-end clientele. Traffickers capitalize on this opportunity. Conservative estimates suggest that a third of the prostituted women in Almaty are underage. In Kazakhstan, parents have been known to loan or even sell their children to a pimp to help make ends meet. While poverty plays a role, corruption is the single largest barrier to ending the slave trade in Almaty and the whole region.
Often, trafficking victims from the region are sent here as a point of sale. Through false job offers and other means of fraud, young girls arrive in Almaty to work the flesh trade. The notable night club scene in Almaty is gaining popularity, and tourism is increasing.
While prostitution is illegal, corrupt police turn a blind eye, and informal brothels operate freely. Beyond that, the international airport in Almaty is a convenient hub for transit. Central Asian girls are found in the far-flung sex markets of Amsterdam, Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, many having passed through Almaty on the way to their fate.
Thank you for praying for Kazakhstan! I lived in Almaty from and I definitely encountered some of the problems written about above. Please pray for the government as corruption is a huge problem in Kazakhstan. May the Lamb of God receive the reward of his suffering in Central Asia! Any little part I can play in the freedom of these underprivileged girls means the world to me. Jesus brings freedom and a love like never encountered before. He will bring light into the darkness of this corruption.
