Key Takeaways
• Kazakhstan deploys AI to publicly spotlight domestic violence through a real-time neon and digital display system
• A historic neon sign flashes each time a new domestic violence case is reported nationwide
• The initiative is powered by locally developed NLP and smart infrastructure from Citix and GForce Grey
• The project reinforces enforcement of the 2024 Saltanat Law and offers direct public access to legal support resources
Kazakhstan has launched a nationally integrated artificial intelligence project designed to draw urgent public attention to domestic violence.
The initiative—titled Svet Saltanat (Light of Saltanat)—combines historic visual symbolism, advanced data processing, and real-time public alerts to highlight the persistence of abuse in households across the country.
Developed collaboratively by digital infrastructure company Citix and creative agency GForce Grey, this system transforms every new report of domestic violence into a visible signal: a restored neon sign begins to blink, accompanied by digital alerts nationwide.
Origin and Purpose of Svet Saltanat
The project grew out of a cultural preservation initiative focused on restoring Almaty’s Soviet-era neon signs. GForce Grey’s creative team identified the Saltanat sign—once adorning a Ministry of Light Industry store—and recognized its potential as a beacon for societal change.
“We have always admired these signs, their aesthetics, their symbolism. They represent the birth of advertising in Kazakhstan. We wanted to preserve that heritage, even just a small part.”— Evgeny Gavrilchenko, Creative Director, GForce Grey
That symbolic interest quickly became a mission to spotlight domestic abuse, a largely invisible epidemic despite legal reform.
“Here was this beautiful sign from the past, and we realized it could serve a new purpose, not just to preserve history, but to confront a very real and painful issue in our present.”
How the System Works
At the heart of the project is an AI-powered infrastructure built by Citix, a leading provider of smart city technology in Kazakhstan. The system uses a localized natural language processing (NLP) model to analyze multiple incoming data sources:
• Anonymized reports from domestic violence crisis centers
• Verified stories and alerts from news media
• Publicly shared posts from social media
Once a new case is identified and verified by the system, a Node.js backend script activates two synchronized alerts:
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The Saltanat neon sign flashes in real-time in Almaty
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Digital billboards throughout Kazakhstan mirror the flicker
The display ends with an informational call-to-action featuring a Telegram bot, Svet_Saltanat, which provides direct access to reporting instructions and legal resources.
“Without Citix’s technical infrastructure and engineering expertise, we could not have made it happen. They were involved every step of the way, from early development to everyday implementation.”— Evgeny Gavrilchenko
Symbolism of the Flicker
Beyond the technological novelty, the visual language of flickering neon holds specific meaning in the project.
“In neon, flickering usually means something is broken, something inside is not working. We used that visual language to reflect what’s broken in society. Every blink says: this is still happening, and we refuse to look away.”
By invoking visual metaphors familiar to urban viewers, the project makes an emotional impact that moves beyond statistics.
Reinforcing the “Saltanat Law”
Kazakhstan passed a significant legal reform in 2024 known informally as the Saltanat Law, which criminalized domestic violence, including psychological and financial abuse.
While the legislation represented a legal milestone, implementation and public engagement remain critical gaps.
“They don’t just see a problem — they are reminded there’s a law in place and, more importantly, how to use it.”
Svet Saltanat bridges this enforcement gap, serving as both a warning and a guide.
Development and Local Innovation
The entire system was conceived and built domestically over a period of five months. A joint team of creatives, engineers, and developers from Citix and GForce Grey worked continuously to bring the vision to life, maintaining cultural relevance and technical precision.
• The NLP model was custom-developed in Kazakhstan
• No off-the-shelf technology or external infrastructure was used
• Engineers prioritized data privacy by only working with anonymized information
“The Light of Saltanat is a story that could happen and be told only here. The lessons are primarily meant for our society. But the technology, which draws from the past to address the present, can be applied anywhere there’s electricity, internet and the will to act.”
Kazakhstan’s Svet Saltanat is not just a digital campaign—it’s an embodiment of how public art, artificial intelligence, and legal advocacy can converge to illuminate systemic problems.
As global communities look for innovative ways to address domestic violence, this project offers a culturally anchored, technologically replicable model for action.
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