News

The international press freedom organisation Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has published an investigation into the trial of Amir Kassenov, editor-in-chief of the independent news agency KazTAG, and its CEO, Asset Matayev.

On 20 August, Instagram blocked the account of Almaty-based journalist and blogger Daniyar Nauryz. He had published content on a wide range of topics, from sports and culture to social and political issues.

On August 23, voters will head to the polls to elect a unicameral parliament established under the new constitution adopted in a March referendum. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has said the constitution allows for a fundamental transformation of the Central Asian country, while critics argue that it represents an attempt to expand Tokayev’s powers.

This Sunday, 23 August 2026, elections to the Kurultai will be held. We remind journalists of the rules they should follow while covering the vote to avoid violating the law.

Today, Almaty’s Bostandyk District Court No. 2 handed down its verdict against former Orda.kz head Gulnar Bazhkenova. She was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with the sentence deferred for two years, and was also banned from working in her profession for five years.

The Facebook account of Gulmira Birzhanova, Head of the Media Qoldau service at the Legal Media Center Public Foundation, has been blocked.