News

On 12 August, it became known that the investigative actions in the criminal case against journalist Azamat Omarov, author of the YouTube channel "Akhual Segodnya", had been completed.

Independent journalists in Kazakhstan are facing increasing pressure ahead of the 23 August elections to the Kurultai, the new unicameral parliament introduced under the constitution and approved in a referendum in March 2026.

“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.

Kazakhstan has seen widespread restrictions and reduced access to the Telegram messaging service. Users in different regions of the country, as well as several Kazakhstani media outlets, have reported problems uploading and sending media files.

Since 10 August 2026, the Facebook page of Kazakhstani human rights defender Bakhytzhan Toregozhina has been completely blocked, while her Instagram account is at risk of being removed following a coordinated wave of mass reports and strikes.

Depriving a journalist of the right to work in their profession violates Kazakhstan’s international obligations, said Nazira Darimbet, President of the International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz,” in a comment to the Zhas Alash newspaper.