The lower house of the Kazakh parliament on 29 June passed several new amendments to the Kazakh law on national security. The amendments imposed new restrictions in several areas, including the Criminal Code and the laws regulating the activities of religious groups, the media and political parties. Some of the more controversial amendments include criminal penalties for \"foreign citizens\" engaging in the \"financing\" of political parties or conducting \"activities to promote candidates and political parties\" throughout the electoral process. An amendment covering the media specifically prohibits a \"foreigner\" from holding an editorial position in a Kazakh media outlet. (Interfax)