Blocking of independent media and journalists intensifies in Kazakhstan ahead of Kurultai elections

“The growing number of professional restrictions is increasing self-censorship within the media community” said Nazira Darimbet, President of the International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz”, in an interview with Radio Azattyq.

In recent months, Kazakhstan’s information space has seen a growing number of cases of pressure on independent media, including account suspensions and content removals.

“We already observed this ahead of the referendum. At that time, such incidents increased sharply. There were numerous cases of social media accounts being blocked or removed. Now, ahead of the Kurultai elections, all we hear is that one person has been blocked, then another. Many YouTube videos are targeted by coordinated mass complaints submitted through Meta, after which the content is either removed, blocked, or the accounts themselves are shut down”, Nazira Darimbet said.

“All of this is leading even the relatively small number of independent media outlets, journalists, bloggers, activists, and simply active members of society to resort to self-censorship, fearing the consequences of openly expressing their views in the information space. It is clear that freedom of expression is being restricted, and these restrictions are becoming increasingly tangible”, the Adil Soz Foundation president said.