Freedom of Speech and Legal Pressure in Kazakhstan: Voices Heard at OSCE Conference

The OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Conference in Warsaw, marking the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Declaration, brought together Kazakhstan's civil society representatives who spoke about restrictions on freedom of speech and the growing pressure on independent media, Orda.kz reports.

Under Pressure

Orda.kz founder and editor-in-chief Gulnara Bazhkenova described how authorities and business interests continue to target journalists in Kazakhstan.

I've been working as a journalist in Kazakhstan for almost 30 years. It's never been easy. The government's goal hasn't changed over the years — to control journalists and silence independent voices.

In her address, Bazhkenova detailed pressure on independent media, including cyberattacks, threats, and document forgery. She spoke about a corporate raid against Orda.kz and attempts to remove her name from its founding documents and databases.

The editor also said she had been pressured to give up 70% of her company to entrepreneur Vyacheslav Kim, co-owner of Kaspi Bank, in exchange for “quiet work.”

In Kazakhstan, independence and success are always suspect. That means you need to be monitored. We even have a special word — curator. That's the name for the representative of the National Security Committee who 'oversees' the editorial boards. We didn't have one. That became our problem.

After Orda.kz aired an investigation into the killing of opposition figure Aidos Sadykov in Kyiv and the alleged involvement of Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB), and the reported suicide of a KNB officer, Bazhkenova said pressure on her outlet increased dramatically.

I came here not as a victim, but as a journalist who believes in the truth. If the OSCE can still do anything today, let it once again become not just a protocol forum, but the voice of conscience.

She emphasized that it is unacceptable for the government to force journalists to remain silent, stop investigations, or suppress their findings.

Legal Restrictions

Other media representatives also raised concerns. Diana Okremova, head of the Legal Media Center public foundation, recalled the new Law on Mass Media adopted in Kazakhstan last year.

The legislation was amended under the guise of protecting against disinformation, but in practice, these provisions are used to restrict independent journalism and public debate. The fact is that the legal concept of false information in Kazakhstan's legislation remains too vague, allowing the government's authorites to be used to block content or prosecute people for expressing their opinions online. Journalists and bloggers are punished not for disseminating false information, but for minor factual inaccuracies that are used to exert pressure.

As an example, she cited the case of Radio Azattyq. Gulmira Birzhanova, a lawyer with the Legal Media Center, discussed it in more detail.

Legal battles between Azattyq’s editorial staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been ongoing. In early 2025, the ministry denied accreditation to several reporters, claiming that Kazakh citizens working for Azattyq were functioning as foreign correspondents without authorization.

Kasym Amanzhol, head of Azattyq, also reported new attacks.

Using a fake Threads account under his name, someone sent offensive messages to friends and colleagues. He said this was the second provocation in two weeks, following false claims on TikTok and Instagram that he owned a house worth $950,000.

Pressure on Lawyers and Human Rights Defenders

Lawyer Murat Adam said that authorities have been using criminal and administrative articles to pressure defense lawyers.

Over the past three years, this persecution of my fellow lawyers has intensified. Back in 2021, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev addressed members of parliament and spoke about the need to strengthen the role of the legal profession in a state governed by the rule of law and to place lawyers on equal footing with prosecutors in court proceedings. But, unfortunately, all this remains just words; we see no such equation.

These levers of pressure are being used against lawyers who highlight rights violations they encounter during investigations or while defending their clients. It is clear that these articles will continue to be used for repressive purposes against lawyers. The facts raised directly violate the 1990 UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. According to these, the state is obligated to ensure that lawyers are not subject to prosecution or threats for the conscientious exercise of their professional activities.

Adam called on the OSCE to issue recommendations urging Kazakhstan to remove legislative provisions that criminalize lawyers for performing their professional duties.

Anar Ibrayeva, head of the human rights organization "Qadir-Kasiet," reported that since early 2025, threats have been recorded against 33 lawyers, including 14 women.

Officials' Account

Kazakhstan’s delegation also presented what it described as progress in human rights and legal reform. Majilis deputy Marat Bashimov said Kazakhstan is strengthening laws to protect human dignity and combat human trafficking.

Our law also prohibits mediation in human trafficking cases and increases penalties for medical institutions where children are abandoned. It also penalizes legal entities for the lack of employment contracts.

Judge Aiym Shayakhmetova of the Astana Interdistrict Civil Court said administrative justice reforms have increased public trust.

Meanwhile, Mikhail Komissarov, Director of the Republican State Enterprise "Center for Analysis and Information" under the Ministry of Culture and Information, claimed that Kazakhstan is building a “modern system of media regulation” based on openness and respect for journalists’ independence.

He also praised the new Law on Mass Media, saying it guarantees journalist protection and access to information — the same law that Kazakh media experts harshly criticized as a tool to restrict press freedom.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya

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