Violations of Freedom of Speech in Kazakhstan October 2026

The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” presents an overview of events reflecting the situation in Kazakhstan with freedom of expression, receipt, and dissemination of information in October 2026.

The Foundation’s monitoring in October recorded

In October, the Foundation recorded 62 reports related to freedom of expression and the dissemination of information:

12 reports of incidents affecting the rights of media outlets, journalists, and bloggers, including:

• 1 report of a physical attack on a journalist;
• 2 reports of journalists being called in by law enforcement agencies;
• accreditation problems, attempts to discredit journalists and public figures, and the misuse of media and journalists’ identities and branding.

36 reports related to access to information of public importance and the dissemination of information, including:

• refusals, restrictions, incomplete responses, and missed deadlines in the provision of information;
• restrictions on reporting from courts and communicating with public officials;
• cyberattacks, account blocking, and problems accessing media websites.

14 reports of judicial and pre-trial proceedings involving allegations or claims connected with publications, including:

• criminal proceedings against journalists, activists, and other content creators;
• civil lawsuits and pre-trial claims against media outlets, journalists, and bloggers;
• administrative proceedings concerning allegedly false information.

The figures include developments in cases initiated earlier and continuing during the reporting month. They do not represent only newly opened cases or newly filed claims.

Key Events in October 2026

Changes to Foreign Media Accreditation Rules

On 15 October, the minister of foreign affairs signed amendments to the rules governing the accreditation of foreign media offices and journalists. The order was registered on 19 October and published on 22 October, with entry into force ten calendar days after its first official publication.

The amendments add “national security interests” as grounds for refusing or withdrawing accreditation, without specifying the circumstances in which these grounds may be invoked. They also reduce the accreditation period for foreign media offices from five years to two, introduce annual reporting, and require applicants to wait a year before reapplying after a refusal or withdrawal. The wording requiring reasons to be substantiated in a refusal decision was removed.

Adil Soz warned that broader grounds without clear criteria create a risk of arbitrary decisions. Separately, on 30 October, RFE/RL–Kazakhstan complained to the foreign minister about delays in renewing accreditation for 11 journalists whose applications had been submitted in May.

Restrictions on Questions and Accreditation in the Kurultai

On 6 October, Ulysmedia.kz reported a warning over questions asked by its journalist Asem Gumarova at a 30 September briefing on the Convention on Cybercrime. Her questions concerned assistance to the families of servicemen who died in the Caspian Sea and reported calls asking social media users to delete critical posts. The warning stated that a repeated breach of the briefing agenda could lead to the withdrawal of her accreditation for six months.

On 21 October, 40 accredited journalists called for the rules to be revised. They proposed allowing questions within speakers’ areas of responsibility after the announced agenda had been covered, and introducing a written procedure for recording and challenging warnings. Adil Soz and Reporters Without Borders supported their call to remove restrictions on access to information.

OTKIR KUREK editor-in-chief Nazymgul Kumyspayeva was also refused permanent accreditation. An official response dated 8 October cited a mismatch between the email address on her application and the newsroom’s published contact details. She said both addresses were used for work and announced her intention to challenge the refusal in court.

Physical Attack and Police Actions Involving Journalists

On 14 October, Sona MEDIA journalist Sandugash Duisenova reported an attack in a corridor of the Almaty Regional Court in Konayev while attending an appeal hearing in a fatal road accident case. According to Duisenova, the defendant tried to seize her phone and struck her arm, apparently believing she was filming. Duisenova said she had not been recording, reported the incident to police, and had her injuries documented. A pre-trial investigation was opened under Article 109 of the Criminal Code concerning battery.

On 22 October, Azattyk Asia correspondent Bagdat Asylbek was forcibly taken to police in Almaty to provide an explanation about an alleged fraudulent smartphone sale. According to media reports, KZT 100,000 had been transferred to his account; he denied placing the advertisement and had approached his bank to reject the payment.

While Asylbek was at the police department, two masked individuals broke into his apartment. Neighbours supplied video recordings, and the journalist reported that nothing appeared to be missing. His lawyer suggested the incidents might be connected. Adil Soz called for an objective investigation, identification of the intruders, and clarification of any link between the two events.

Account Blocking and Cloned Media Resources

On 27 October, Facebook restricted access to Adil Soz’s official page following a copyright complaint. The platform had removed the Foundation’s 6 October post about the warning issued to Ulysmedia.kz. Adil Soz challenged the complaint, contacted Meta, and sought assistance from Access Now and Reporters Without Borders. Access to the page was restored on 30 October.

Lukpan Akhmedyarov reported that his Facebook page had been blocked following a copyright complaint. It was subsequently restored, but his Instagram account was blocked on 28 October and became accessible again by 30 October. Dinara Egeubayeva also reported repeated Facebook suspensions, with the latest leaving her account inaccessible for three days.

Cloned resources continued to disseminate fabricated material. On 6 October, Exclusive.kz reported a fake Informburo Telegram channel and two imitation websites carrying a fabricated publication about Azat Peruashev. Fake channels impersonating KazTAG director Aset Matayev also circulated claims that the agency was for sale. On 2 October, the Ministry of Culture and Information reported measures to restrict access to three previously identified Exclusive.kz clones; the newsroom said access still remained possible through some providers.

In a separate development reported on 29 October, Nasha Gazeta learned that the investigation into threats to block its Instagram account unless it paid USD 1,000 had been suspended on 6 September because no suspect had been identified. The newsroom planned to seek further information and complain to the prosecutor’s office.

Access to Public Information and Media Websites

On 7 October, an Astana appellate court upheld the dismissal of Legal Media Centre director Diana Okremova’s claim against the Information Committee over its refusal to disclose information about government grants to private media in 2026. The Committee cited restricted official information. Okremova argued that the total amount of budget spending should be public and was distinct from information about individual recipients. The Centre said it would continue seeking disclosure and apply to the Constitutional Court.

Other cases concerned incomplete or refused responses about public spending, servicemen’s deaths, school textbooks, and local government activities. On 12 October, access to Total.kz was restored after almost a month of unavailability through several Kazakhstani internet providers. The Ministry of Culture and Information and Kazakhtelecom had denied imposing restrictions. The reasons for the disruption and restoration were not officially established.

Internews Kazakhstan also announced the closure of its office and the suspension of website updates from 8 October. Its Facebook page’s activity was suspended as well.

Criminal Proceedings and Changes in Detention Status

On 22 October, S-Inform editor-in-chief Amangeldy Batyrbekov reported that a Saryagash court had remanded him in custody for two months immediately after he completed 20 days of administrative detention. He linked the prosecution to his reporting. The grounds for the criminal investigation and the applicable article were not specified in his account.

On 16 October, the trial of activist Sanzhar Bokayev, videographer Ulan Nusipkozha, and public activist Madiyar Kalmenov began in Almaty. The charges included dissemination of knowingly false information against Bokayev and Nusipkozha, alongside other alleged offences. The defence initially disputed the charges. Journalists reported problems with the courtroom broadcast. On 20 October, the court ordered Bokayev’s lawyer Radmir Utepov to delete social media posts about the proceedings. On 22 October, Nusipkozha was transferred to house arrest on health grounds; Bokayev and Kalmenov remained in custody.

The month also brought two significant developments in earlier cases. The Astana prosecutor’s office found unlawful the travel ban imposed on Lukpan Akhmedyarov, who was a witness entitled to defence rather than a suspect, and called for it to be lifted. Daniyar Adilbekov left prison on 8 October after a court granted a reduction in his sentence; the remaining term was replaced with one and a half years of probation supervision.

Civil Claims Against Journalists

On 20 October, hearings resumed in developer Etude-Ybyrai’s lawsuit against Vadim Boreiko, seeking removal of his reporting and KZT 71.75 million in damages over coverage of the Premier residential development. Residents testified that opposition to the construction predated his publications. As of 29 October, Vlast reported that the claimant had still not identified the specific statements it considered false and damaging to its business reputation.

In proceedings against Gulnara Bazhkenova, former education minister Gani Beisembayev’s representative proposed settlement terms requiring retractions, compensation, an undertaking not to write about him, and the organisation of favourable articles in other outlets. The judge said a settlement should address the claims in the lawsuit and should not impose additional conditions on the journalist’s future activities.

Court Decisions on Publication Related Claims

On 8 October, the Constitutional Court found no constitutional violation in the one-year limitation period under Article 38(1) of the Law on Mass Media. It stated that calculating the period from publication provides legal certainty, while assessment of the claimant’s circumstances and evidence belongs to the court hearing the individual case.

Two administrative cases under Article 456-2 of the Administrative Offences Code ended in dismissal for lack of the elements of an offence. On 1 October, proceedings against children’s rights advocate Alexandra Ismailova over a post about possible violence against a teenager were terminated. The court found that the commercial nature of her activity, required for the particular charge, had not been established and that contradictions in the evidence favoured the defendant. On 8 October, a Kostanay court dismissed the case against Vremya correspondent Stas Kiselev because the competent authority had not supplied evidence proving dissemination of false information.

The monitoring was prepared on the basis of reports from Adil Soz Foundation correspondents and information from open sources.

For enquiries about the monitoring: info@adilsoz.kz