Violations of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan September 2024

12 november 2024

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 August 2024.

In September 2024, the following were recorded:

19 reports of violations of the rights of journalists, media outlets, and newsmakers, including:

2 incidents of interference with journalists’ lawful professional activities,
1 case of detention of journalists,
7 cases of unauthorized use of the image of media, journalists, and newsmakers,
1 case of attack on journalists,
4 threats against media outlets or journalists,

and others.

30 reports related to the right to freely receive and disseminate information, including:

18 cases of refusals or restrictions on the provision of socially significant information,
6 unlawful access to computer information, DDoS attacks,
3 cases of closure/suspension of media outlets, unreasonable restrictions on website access,
2 cases of denial of accreditation/revocation of access to government institutions,

and others.

9 reports of pre-trial and court claims and lawsuits against journalists, media outlets, and citizens (data on pretrial and judicial proceedings do not include reports related to ongoing cases). These include:

2 civil pre-trial and court claims against media,
1 pre-trial claim in a criminal case,
6 administrative court proceedings, including 3 for accusations of publishing/disseminating false information, 2 for violations of election laws, and 1 for defamation.

Events in the Country

On 2 September 2024, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the nation, highlighting key areas for strengthening interaction between citizens and the state, as well as the importance of digitalization. He emphasized that over the past five years, the concept of a “listening state” has transformed the relationship culture between citizens and government agencies, creating conditions for greater accountability and transparency in governance. Tokayev noted that the government must take a more active approach in implementing artificial intelligence technologies and digital innovations to improve administrative efficiency.

The President also announced the establishment of a National Artificial Intelligence Center and the completion of a fiber-optic communication line through the Caspian Sea by 2025—initiatives aimed at bolstering the country's digital infrastructure and cybersecurity. Tokayev urged the parliament and government to accelerate the implementation of these projects to maintain Kazakhstan's position as a leader in technological innovation and the digital economy.

In September, tragic incidents in Almaty involving the suspected suicides of three teenagers raised public concern, particularly over the possible influence of social media. PR expert Nurken Khalykbergen commented on his Telegram channel that TikTok has a strong impact on teenagers due to its short, captivating videos that easily capture attention. He suggested a temporary ban on TikTok to prevent further tragedies.

Deputy Zhuldyz Suleimenova also spoke on the issue, noting that dangerous games circulating online could affect children's mental health. She believes social media platforms should adjust their algorithms to restrict access to harmful content and that, if platforms do not take action, the state may need to intervene, possibly even blocking these networks.

Revocation of Government Building Access for Journalist Zhaniya Urankayeva

One of the most discussed events in September was the revocation of access for Zhaniya Urankayeva, a journalist with Press.kz, to the government building until the end of the year. The reason cited was her violation of three provisions of the Government Apparatus of Kazakhstan’s access and internal facility regulations.

Urankayeva told a representative of the Adil Soz Foundation that when the government press center was moved to the second floor two weeks earlier, denying the media access to the corridors, journalists demanded to see the document outlining these rules. The response was that the restrictions were included in internal facility regulations marked “For Official Use Only”, thus preventing media personnel from accessing them.

The lack of access to the text of the internal regulations and the ban on government building entry due to their violation led to negative reactions within the media community.

Journalists learned what actions could result in such bans before the government meeting on 10 September: they were not allowed above the second floor of the building, nor could they use mobile phones outside of designated media areas, requiring gadgets to be left in special lockers if used otherwise. The document stated that journalists could only move where permitted by the government press service, aside from the restroom and cafeteria, though no specific areas were clearly defined. The press service prohibited photographing the document, as it was “for official use only”.

In support of their colleague, journalists held a form of protest during the government meeting on 10 September, where Zhaniya Urankayeva was barred from entry. They asked questions on her behalf.

The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” acted as a public representative for the journalist. The foundation appealed to the Government Apparatus of Kazakhstan, suggesting a reconsideration of the restriction on Urankayeva’s access to the government building.

On 19 September, following the foundation’s appeal, the government press service agreed to review the restriction, and Zhaniya Urankayeva was able to resume her professional duties in full, adhering to the access and internal facility regulations as well as other relevant documents governing the activities of media representatives within the government building.

Also in September:

Detention of Journalist Askhat Niyazov and Cameraman in Almaty

On 12 September, journalist Askhat Niyazov, the author of the project "Obozhayu", and his cameraman were detained in Almaty, allegedly for "disturbance" in the city administration building. Niyazov had previously attempted to meet with the city's akim, Yerbolat Dossayev, for an interview. In the arrest footage, a police officer explained that security staff had reported "suspicious individuals" walking around the building.

The journalists were held at the police station for about 30 minutes and asked to provide statements.

Upon release, Niyazov expressed his confusion about the incident:
“What surprised me most is that six or seven people arrived. They could have simply called and asked me to come in. I gave my statement, explained that I was looking for the akim, and that was it—they released me. What was the point of all this?” Niyazov said.

Press.kz Website Hacked in Large-Scale Cyberattack, Disrupting Operations for Over Two Weeks

On 12 September, the editorial team of Press.kz reported a hacker attack on their website shortly after publishing material about the court case involving journalist Daniyar Adilbekov. Despite efforts by IT specialists, the site was only restored the next day, but only materials dating back to 2022 remained. According to the site’s editor-in-chief, Yana Bozhedomova, the data archive is preserved, but complete restoration will take time. Bozhedomova mentioned that the team had never experienced an attack of this magnitude before.

The website went down again on 19 September, and on 25 September, Yana Bozhedomova stated that the attacks were ongoing. She noted that the attacks had only affected the website, while social media accounts remained unaffected. As of 27 September, attempting to access the site resulted in a warning about an unsecured connection, followed by a 404 error

The monitoring was prepared according to reports to correspondents of the «Adil Soz» Foundation
Head of the Monitoring Service of the «Adil Soz» Foundation - Elena Tsoy
Email: lena@adilsoz.kz
For all monitoring-related inquiries, you can also contact: info@adilsoz.kz