On 15 July, sixteen Radio Azzatyq journalists were denied accreditation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kazakhstan, on the grounds that they had been working without the appropriate accreditation. The journalists are currently barred from exercising their journalistic freedom. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns this decision as an attack on press freedom and journalists' rights to practise their profession.

Credit: Radio Azattyq

In February, two months before the accreditations of seven journalists were to expire, the Kazakh service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Azzatyq, submitted applications to renew them. As part of the procedure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is obliged to issue a written response within two months and to provide apt justification for its decision. By April, the accreditations expired. The ministry extended the review period by an additional two months, claiming to need more time "to establish factual circumstances that are important for a proper review," as the only legal ground for the delay, says Human Rights Watch.

On 11 July, Radio Azattyq filed an administrative lawsuit to challenge the ministry's decision to delay the review. They stated that the ministry's action violated both the national legislation and the constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and expression. On 17 July, the ministry declined to attend the court-proposed conciliation procedure. The case is now pending, with a hearing date yet to be scheduled.

This is not an isolated case. In 2022 and 2024, Kazakh authorities were repeat offenders at withholding accreditation, though the decisions were later reversed as a result of legal challenges and international pressure.

In August 2024, journalists who usually cover Cabinet meetings on the third floor of the government building were deniedaccess and prevented from asking questions to government officials regarding the conclusion of the meeting. The government implemented the change without notifying the journalists in advance.

On 18 October 2024, Kazakh journalist Daniyar Adilbekov was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for false information disseminationafter sharing a Telegram post that accused an energy official of corruption.

Across Central Asia, online media outlets are being unexpectedly shut downwithout explanation, which is a clear attack on independent journalism. The message being sent is that freedom of expression is only free if it meets certain conditions. But this should not be allowed to stand.

"The deliberate targeting of independent journalists by the Kazakh government is a clear attack on press freedom. It is imperative for journalists to be able to carry out their professional occupation without fear of repercussions or punishment. We call on Kazakh authorities to uphold the principles of a free press to a high standard,"said IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger.