“Asked a police officer to identify himself and was fined”: Adil Soz Foundation calls for journalist’s rights to be protected

The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” has appealed to the Ministry of Culture and Information, asking it to protect the rights of Karaganda journalist Murat Nurgalimov, who was held administratively liable following a conflict with a police officer.

On 17 July 2026, Nurgalimov was filming police officers while they were carrying out their official duties. According to the journalist, one of the officers ordered him to move away. In response, Nurgalimov identified himself and asked the police officer to state his name and present his official identification.

As the Foundation notes, under Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph 5 of Article 19 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Internal Affairs Bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” police officers are required, when exercising their powers in interactions with individuals, to identify themselves and present their official identification.

According to the journalist, the police officer failed to comply with this requirement. Nurgalimov further states that the officer then used physical force against him, after which the journalist was taken for a medical examination. According to the available information, the examination found no alcohol or other substances in his system.

Despite this, a report was drawn up against Nurgalimov under Part 1 of Article 667 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan for failure to comply with a lawful order of a police officer. Judge N.A. Kutysheva imposed a fine of 129,750 tenge on the journalist.

Adil Soz believes that the incident requires an objective legal assessment, including a review of the police officer’s actions and the circumstances in which the journalist was held administratively liable.

The Foundation also draws attention to the position of Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva, who, in an address to journalists on 17 August, reiterated that media representatives have the right to film individuals without their consent when the recording relates to the performance of their official duties.

In this regard, the International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” calls on the Ministry of Culture and Information to take measures to protect the rights of journalist Murat Nurgalimov, initiate an objective internal investigation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and ensure an independent review of the court decision in accordance with the procedure established by law.