Statement by the International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” on the Cyberattacks Against Orda.kz

8 may 2025

The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” expresses its deep concern over yet another digital attack targeting the editorial team of Orda.kz and its staff members.

For several days, the outlet has been subjected to systematic pressure, including the blocking of the main Orda.kz website within Kazakhstan (while access to its Kazakh- and English-language versions remains available); a barrage of prank calls and messages in response to fake classified ads about the sale of equipment and animals, targeting the phone numbers of the editor-in-chief and the media outlet’s owner around the clock; and the dissemination of deepfake content designed to damage the honour, dignity, and reputation of the outlet's journalists.

In particular, a fake message circulated on social media in the name of Orda.kz’s Editor-in-Chief Gulnara Bazhkenova, inviting people to participate in the “Immortal Regiment” march. She was not the only one targeted. Similar deepfakes have also been distributed in the names of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, North Kazakhstan Region Akim Ghauyez Nurmukhambetov, Kostanay Region Akim Kumar Aksakalov, media manager Syrim Itkulov, and journalists Vadim Boreiko, Asem Zhapisheva, among others. Calls to boycott this event were falsely attributed to the National Security Committee (NSC) of Kazakhstan.

These actions bear clear signs of cyberbullying and are aimed at destabilising society and exerting psychological pressure on individual journalists.

Under the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, such actions — intended to obstruct the legitimate professional activities of journalists by creating conditions that hinder their work — may constitute criminal offences under Article 158 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, and potentially even Article 255 (Act of terrorism, i.e., actions committed with the intent to disrupt public safety and cause socially dangerous consequences).

It is worth recalling that in 2022–2023, independent journalists and media outlets in Kazakhstan were subjected to a series of attacks that included threats, arson of personal vehicles, doors sealed with construction foam, DDoS attacks, telephone harassment, and leaks of personal data. The perpetrators — coordinator Oleksiy Tokarev and sponsor Arkadiy Klebanov (Manevich) — were brought to justice. Tokarev was sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison, while Klebanov was committed to a psychiatric facility for compulsory treatment.

The current attack on Orda.kz demonstrates that the measures taken at the time failed to address the root of the problem — sustained pressure on independent media. New threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, involving deepfake technologies and large-scale manipulation of personal data.

The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz”:

Urges law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the cyberattack on Orda.kz and to identify those responsible for organising and executing the pressure campaign;
Appeals to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Prosecutor General’s Office to introduce rapid response mechanisms to combat cyberbullying and the spread of deepfakes aimed at discrediting journalists;
Considers it essential to introduce specific legal provisions establishing administrative and criminal liability for digital harassment — cyberbullying — including the use of artificial intelligence and personal data. In 2024, Article 73-6 was added to the Administrative Code of Kazakhstan, introducing liability for the bullying of minors, including online forms. However, there is still no specific legal article protecting adults (including media professionals) from cyberbullying. We believe it is necessary to extend protections to women, politicians, journalists, and civil society activists, who often become targets of online attacks, harassment, doxxing, slut-shaming, and other forms of digital abuse.

The Foundation continues to monitor the situation and remains ready to provide legal assistance to journalists subjected to digital pressure.