Unknown actors spread false information in Dinara Yegeubayeva’s name

Journalist Dinara Yegeubayeva has reported a series of fake accounts and publications in which false information is being disseminated in her name or through the use of her name and photographs.

According to information provided to the Adil Soz Foundation by the journalist herself, several Telegram channels are operating while presenting themselves as being associated with Yegeubayeva. She stated that these resources do not belong to her and that the information published on them has no connection to her.

False reports are also being circulated on other platforms. In particular, a post appeared on Threads claiming that Yegeubayeva had allegedly contacted the U.S. Embassy regarding an application for political asylum. The journalist described the claim as false and said she had already informed the U.S. Embassy about it.

According to Yegeubayeva, the same account has also been spreading claims that she allegedly received grants from the international organisation Reporters Without Borders.

“This is a channel that specialises in spreading false information about me. I have already informed the U.S. Embassy. I also wanted to make you aware of this, because the latest post refers to grants from Reporters Without Borders that I allegedly received,” the journalist told Adil Soz.

Screenshots provided to the Foundation also show a fake page created using Yegeubayeva’s name and photograph and containing sexualised content.

The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” considers the creation of fake accounts, the dissemination of false information in a journalist’s name, and the use of their image in a sexualised context to be serious forms of digital pressure and reputational harm.

The Foundation believes it is important to identify those responsible for creating and administering such resources and to hold them criminally liable.