Germany's Commissioner Visits Kazakhstan to Strengthen Ethnic German Ties

Bernd Fabritius, Germany's federal commissioner for resettler affairs and national minorities, has made his first official visit to Kazakhstan. The trip, scheduled from May 17 to 21, 2019, aims to address the needs of the country's ethnic German community. Fabritius, a Transylvanian Saxon who moved to Germany at 18, has long focused on supporting minority groups since his appointment in 2018.

Fabritius began his political career as a Bundestag member for the Christian Social Union (CSU) from 2013 to 2017. After becoming commissioner in 2018, he spent much of his first year meeting with minority communities across Germany. His own background as a resettler has shaped his approach to the role.

Kazakhstan remains home to 178,029 ethnic Germans, according to the latest census. In 2018 alone, 2,292 late resettlers arrived in Germany from the country. During his visit, Fabritius plans to travel to Almaty, Pavlodar, and a village with a significant German population. The German-Kazakh Foundation 'Rebirth' supports the remaining community through social projects and scholarships. At a recent government conference, officials discussed how to better assist these groups. Similar efforts exist in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, where 9,000 to 10,000 ethnic Germans live, mostly in the north. There, German schools, cultural centres, and organisations like DAAD promote education, while local associations advocate for minority rights.

Fabritius's visit highlights ongoing ties between Germany and Kazakhstan's ethnic German population. Support programmes, resettlement efforts, and cultural initiatives continue to play a key role. The commissioner's trip reinforces Germany's commitment to maintaining these connections.