Radio Azattyq Files Complaint with the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Kazakhstan service (RFE/RL-Kazakhstan) has appealed to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, calling for an end to delays in processing applications for permanent journalist accreditation. The outlet also urged the ministry to verify the legality of the extensions granted to application review periods and issue an individual decision on each application.
In mid-May, Radio Azattyq submitted documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to renew the accreditation of 11 staff members. However, two months later, no response had been received. According to Azattyq Asia Director Torokul Doorov, the ministry informed the editorial team that the application review period had been extended by a further two months. The delay occurred ahead of the Kurultai parliamentary elections scheduled for 23 August 2026.
As a result, a response was expected only in mid-September. However, the journalists have still not received their accreditation.
Otkir Kurek Editor-in-Chief Nazymgul Kumyspaeva Files Complaint Over Denial of Permanent Accreditation to the Kurultai
Nazymgul Kumyspaeva, a journalist and editor-in-chief of the independent online outlet Otkir Kurek, was denied permanent accreditation to cover the Kurultai. The sole reason for the refusal was that the email address provided in the application did not match the editorial contact details listed on the outlet’s letterhead and website.
Otkir Kurek intends to challenge the refusal in court.
Prosecutor’s Office Rules Travel Ban on Journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov Unlawful
The Astana Prosecutor’s Office partially upheld the complaint filed by journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov’s defence team and ruled that the actions of the Investigative Department of the Police Department, specifically the imposition of a travel ban, were unlawful.
In early August, Akhmedyarov was prevented from leaving Kazakhstan at Astana Airport. “The border officer told me I was prohibited from leaving the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan. They returned my passport and said the Astana Police Department was responsible for initiating the travel ban,” Akhmedyarov wrote on Facebook.
Following its review of the complaint, the prosecutor’s office declared the actions of the Police Department’s Investigative Department unlawful and indicated that the restriction on crossing the border should be lifted. The prosecutor’s office also promised to conduct an investigation into the repeated suspension of the criminal case.
The journalist plans to sue the Astana Police Department and seek reimbursement for the cost of his tickets.
Man Suspected of Harassing a Bus Passenger Sues Uralskaya Nedelya Newspaper
A resident of Uralsk has filed a lawsuit against Uralskaya Nedelya following the publication of a video showing an incident involving an 18-year-old female bus passenger.
Police had previously sought the man on suspicion of harassing and insulting the young woman under Article 434 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan (petty hooliganism). The passenger herself provided the video recording. An administrative report was drawn up against the man, but the case was closed due to the expiry of the statutory limitation period.
The court hearing on the claim against the outlet is scheduled for 30 October.
Court Partially Upholds Business Reputation Claim Over Report on Corruption in Agricultural Science
The court partially upheld a claim brought by Kalybayev and Dolinny against journalist Kirill Pavlov for the protection of their honour, dignity and business reputation. The case concerned an article entitled “Who Is Turning Out the Lights on Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Science?”, published on the Telegram channel Fond-Bureau for Investigating Corruption.
The plaintiffs asked the court to declare the published information false and damaging to their reputations, order the removal of the publications, require the publication of a retraction and award compensation for moral harm.
The defendants argued that the claims were unfounded and asked the court to dismiss them in full. However, the court partially upheld the claim.
Lawsuit Against QazaqstanMedia Settled Through Mediation
The public association Horizont and QazaqstanMedia resolved a dispute over the protection of honour, dignity and business reputation through mediation. The dispute arose from a video report entitled “Horizont Is Narrowing — Dacha Owners in Petropavlovsk Fight to Protect Their Property.”
The organisation had filed a lawsuit against the media outlet. During the settlement process, the parties agreed that the outlet would conduct an interview presenting the plaintiff’s position. The plaintiff withdrew its remaining claims.
Journalist Daniyar Adilbekov Released Early
Kazakhstani journalist Daniyar Adilbekov, who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in 2024, has been released early. He will remain under probation supervision for the next 18 months.
Adilbekov was detained in March 2024 following publications on the anonymous Telegram channel Dikaya Orda. The criminal case concerned the dissemination of information about the activities of government agencies, commercial organisations and individual public figures.
Unknown Individuals Break Into the Apartment of Azattyq Asia Journalist Bagdat Assylbek in Almaty
Unknown individuals broke into the Almaty apartment of Bagdat Assylbek, a journalist with Azattyq Asia, while he was at a police station.
On the morning of 22 October, Assylbek received a phone call from a person claiming to be a cybercrime police officer. The caller said that money had been transferred to the journalist’s bank account and needed to be returned. Assylbek subsequently went to the bank and submitted a statement refusing the funds.
However, as he was leaving the bank, police officers detained him and took him to a police department. According to the outlet, the journalist was not presented with a summons. While Assylbek was at the police department providing explanations, unknown individuals entered his apartment. According to neighbours, two people wearing hoods and masks were seen at the scene.
After returning home, the journalist filed a police complaint over the unlawful entry. An investigative team examined the door, collected fingerprints and interviewed witnesses.
The journalist’s lawyer, Elena Zhigalenok, believes the detention and the break-in may be connected. She considers the incident a possible attempt to intimidate and exert pressure on the journalist.
Legal support for media professionals is provided by the MediaQoldau legal service of the Legal Media Center. The legal team includes lawyer Gulmira Birzhanova, lawyers Assel Tokayeva (Tokayeva & Partners law firm), Liliya Chausova, Mereke Gabdualiyev and Elena Zhigalenok.
Media Qoldau is the legal service of the Legal Media Center.
We provide legal consultations for media professionals and bloggers.
To receive консультацию, you can email mediastana@gmail.com or call +7 7172 424 432 between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
#mediaqoldau