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"We stand firmly against any form of pressure on journalists and call for the protection of freedom of speech."
— Legal Media Center
The Legal Media Center, a public foundation, issues this open statement in response to the growing number of cases involving pressure on independent journalists in Kazakhstan. These include harassment, restrictions, and legal actions targeting journalists and bloggers such as Samal Ibraeva, Gulnar Bazhenova, Oksana Makushina, Zhanna Baitelova, Nazira Darimbet, Oleg Gusev, Kirill Pavlov, Askhat Niyazov, Sandugash Duisenova, among others.
We are witnessing a disturbing trend: instead of fostering dialogue and transparency, authorities increasingly resort to administrative, legal, and reputational tactics to suppress journalistic work. This not only endangers individual professionals but also undermines the very foundation of a free press. Such actions violate both national laws and Kazakhstan’s international human rights obligations, threatening the development of a democratic society.
We emphasize that:
- Freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the country’s international commitments;
- Pressure on journalists erodes public trust and restricts access to information of vital public interest;
- Independent journalism must operate free from fear, pressure, and censorship.
The Legal Media Center calls on:
- Government authorities to conduct transparent and impartial investigations into all reported incidents of harassment and to ensure a safe and free environment for journalists;
- The public to show solidarity with the journalistic community and support those defending freedom of expression;
- International organizations to pay close attention to the deteriorating media freedom situation in Kazakhstan.
The Legal Media Center reaffirms its commitment to providing legal and advisory support to journalists and bloggers, and will continue to document and report violations of their rights.
