''Ūly Dala Qyrandary'' (, ) is a Kazakh

advocacy group Advocacy groups, also known as lobby groups, interest groups, special interest groups, pressure groups, or public associations, use various forms of advocacy or lobbying to influence public opinion and ultimately public policy. They play an impor ...

that was founded on 12 October 2011. The organization is engaged in the development of cultural and national values of the country. It is led by Kazakh writer and politician Sadybek Tügel who was the candidate for the movement in the

2019 Kazakh presidential election Snap election, Snap presidential elections were held in Kazakhstan on 9 June 2019 to elect the President of Kazakhstan following the resignation of long-term President Nursultan Nazarbayev in March 2019.

. Tugel won 0.92% of the vote and took last place in the race.

History

The Ūly Dala Qyrandary movement was officially founded on 11 October 2011, when its first constituent congress was held at the Kalibek Kuanyshbayev Theater in

Astana Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...

. The congress brought together 205 delegates from across Kazakhstan, who unanimously supported the creation of a new republican public socio-cultural movement. At this event, Sadibek Tugel and Marat Nabiyev, both well-known public figures and patriots, were elected as co-chairs of the movement. A total of 25 individuals were also elected to the Supreme Council. The movement was registered with the

Ministry of Justice A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...

on January 12, 2012, receiving a certificate of state registration as a legal entity. All 16 regional branches, including in cities like Astana and Almaty and regions such as Akmola,

East Kazakhstan East Kazakhstan Region (; ) is a region of Kazakhstan. It occupies the easternmost part of Kazakhstan, and includes parts of the Irtysh River, Lake Markakol, and Lake Zaysan. Its administrative center is Öskemen (also known as Ust'-Kamenogorsk ...

, and

Atyrau Atyrau (, ; , ; ), known until 1991 as Guryev (), is a city in Kazakhstan and the capital of Atyrau Region. Atyrau is a transcontinental city, at the mouth of the Ural River on the Caspian Sea, between Europe and Asia, west of Almaty and east o ...

, also obtained legal registration, making ''Ūly Dala Qyrandary'' a fully recognized public association. Since its formation, the movement has organized numerous meetings and cultural events across Kazakhstan under the motto: ''"Birligi myqtı el – oza dy!"'' ("The stronger the unity of the people, the stronger our Motherland!"). It has played an active role in promoting national values, cultural heritage, and patriotic spirit through public initiatives, round tables, and commemorative events. Notable actions include the erection of monuments to national figures such as Baluan Sholak and the legendary horse Qūlager, funded independently by the movement’s leadership. In 2012, the movement also hosted a memorial evening in Astana honoring 14 journalists who contributed significantly to Kazakhstani media. The ''Ūly Dala Qyrandary'' has also launched initiatives aimed at fostering cultural identity, such as the campaign for the Museum of Glory of the Great Steppe (''Ūly Dala Dañqy mūrajaiy''), and the "Būlaq körseñ – köziñdi aş" program to support educational opportunities for ethnic Kazakh youth living abroad. In November 2012, the movement organized the participation of Kazakh

kokpar Buzkashi () is the most favored sport of Afghanistan. It is a traditional sport in which horse-mounted players attempt to place a goat or calf carcass in a goal. Similar games are known as kokpar, kupkari, and ulak tartysh in Uzbekistan and Kaza ...

athletes in international competitions in

Denizli Denizli is a city in Aegean Region, Aegean Turkey, and seat of the province of Denizli Province, Denizli. The city forms the urban part of the districts Merkezefendi and Pamukkale, Denizli, Pamukkale, with a population of 691 783 in 2024. Denizl ...

, Turkey, where the team secured first place. This marked the first such involvement by a civic movement in promoting national sports at the international level. The movement maintains close cooperation with media through the TUGEL Media network, which includes magazines, newspapers, and press clubs.

References

Political advocacy groups in Kazakhstan Political movements in Kazakhstan Organizations established in 2011 2011 establishments in Kazakhstan {{Kazakhstan-party-stub