Kazakhstan: Court Upholds MFA’s Refusal to Accredit Azattyq Journalists
Photo: RFE/RL
The Specialized Inter-District Court for Administrative Cases of Astana has rejected the lawsuit filed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL-Kazakhstan), which includes Azattyq, against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan over the refusal to accredit its journalists, Orda.kz reports.
Judge Kairat Smagulov announced the ruling:
“The court came to the conclusion that the ministry’s decision was lawful and therefore rejected the claim.”
Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to extend accreditation first for seven Azattyq journalists, and later for nine more.
During the hearings, Azattyq’s lawyers argued that the editorial office had submitted all required documents in advance, but the ministry delayed the review and then refused accreditation without explanation.
Nevertheless, the court sided with the Foreign Ministry, which claimed that Azattyq staff had been “illegally engaged in journalistic activities without receiving accreditation.” Officials referred to the new 2024 law on mass media, which bans foreign media and foreign journalists from working in Kazakhstan without accreditation.
Although all Azattyq employees are Kazakh citizens, they are still treated as foreign journalists and must apply for accreditation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The court’s ruling effectively endorsed this practice.
Ahead of the trial, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Kazakh authorities to restore accreditation to the 16 Azattyq journalists.
Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya
Latest news
- Kazakhstan’s IT Market Slows After Years of Rapid Growth, but Salaries Keep Rising
- Why the Oil Price Spike Did Not Help Kazakhstan’s Budget Much, the Ministry Explained
- Why More Women in Kazakhstan Are Working Beyond the 40-Hour Week
- Drone Strikes on CPC Drag Down Kazakhstan’s Oil and Gas Output
- New Parking Rules Approved in Astana: How Much Will Drivers Pay and Who Is Exempt?
- Shell and Eni Replaced in Karachaganak Gas Plant Project
- Economist Calculates How Much Income Kazakhstanis Actually Keep
- Samruk-Kazyna Raises 3 Billion Yuan on AIX in Record-Low Panda Bond Deal
- Kazakhstan to Build Four New Airports by 2028
- State-Owned Plant in Atyrau Tried to Buy Sturgeon Caviar for Nearly 150 Million Tenge
- Chaos and Delays at the Border: Kazakhstan Wants to Bring Queues Under Control With New Rules
- Major Illegal Migration Channel Dismantled in Shymkent
- “A Shameful Sight”: Dump Near Altyn-Emel Caught on Video
- Kazakhstan Is Preparing to Increase the Scrap Fee on Cars From Russia
- Work Permits For Migrants To Go Fully Online As PSCs End Service
- Kazakhstanis Expect Higher Inflation but Remain Optimistic About the Future
- Support For Rural Doctors Doubles Amid Staffing Shortage
- South Korean Shareholder To Inject 4.7 Billion Tenge Into Kazakhstan’s Only Loss-Making Bank
- Tokayev Finishes Uzbekistan Trip With Focus on Trade and Environmental Cooperation
- Kashagan Operator Accused Of Stalling Sulfur Fine Pending Washington Arbitration
