CPJ Urges Kazakhstan to Reinstate Accreditation for 16 Azattyq Journalists Ahead of Court Ruling

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Kazakh authorities to reinstate the accreditation of 16 Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reporters barred from working since June, Orda.kz reports.

The reminder came ahead of a court hearing scheduled for August 19.

Under the 2024 media law, foreign journalists are prohibited from working in Kazakhstan without accreditation.

RFE/RL’s bold reporting has an absolutely central place in Kazakhstan’s media sphere, and we await with deep concern a court verdict that could dramatically hinder its work. Kazakh authorities must allow RFE/RL to operate free from harassment and should reform overly restrictive foreign accreditation laws,
said Gulnoza Said, coordinator of CPJ’s program for Europe and Central Asia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to renew accreditation for 16 journalists, including the bureau chief. Officials argued that the reporters continued to work while their applications were under review, which they described as a violation of the law.

The outlet maintains that the ministry itself violated deadlines, prolonging the review process beyond the required two months and later citing the delay as grounds for refusal. It also noted that the law’s restrictions on “foreign media” should not apply to RFE/RL’s local journalists, who are all Kazakh citizens.

The Foreign Ministry has previously denied accreditation to 36 Azattyq employees.

It was clear then, and it has become even clearer now, that the restrictive amendments to the accreditation rules for 2024 were developed for Radio Azattyq,
wrote Gulmira Birzhanova, head of the media support department at the Legal Media Center, on Facebook.

CPJ said it reached out to the ministry for comment but has not received a reply.

In July 2025, RFE/RL filed a lawsuit against the Foreign Ministry following the refusal to accredit its staff.

The ministry rejected a proposal for reconciliation. On August 18, court debates took place in Astana, and the ruling is expected on August 19.

Original Author: Raushan Korzhumbekova