Unclear Who Is Investigating: Orda.kz Lawyers Barred from Office During Searches

Lawyers were being kept outside, and contact with some of the editorial team was lost, Orda.kz reports.

As of the morning of December 1, searches were reported to have been underway at the Orda.kz office in Almaty and at the home of editor-in-chief Gulnara Bazhkenova, with law enforcement preventing entry to the premises.

Lawyer Murat Adam told Elmedia that he arrived at the office but was not allowed inside. According to him, SOBR officers pushed him out onto the street despite his legal credentials.

I have the right to be present during the investigative proceedings, but I was not allowed in. This is direct obstruction of my legal practice. Complaints are already being prepared.

We don't know who's conducting the investigation, what article of the criminal case has been opened, or who's being prosecuted. The group's leader isn't answering any questions.

According to her, the search had been ongoing for more than two hours without the participation of lawyers or editorial representatives.

Orda editor-in-chief Dmitry Kim has been taken in for questioning. 

Men in black clothing had been seen inside, and unmarked vehicles were parked nearby.

One Orda.kz journalist said she was live-streaming before colleagues went to a nearby café to discuss details. When leaving the office, police with identification appeared and stopped them.

Didenko requested to see the senior investigator’s warrant.

She recorded his name and badge number, but the investigator refused to present the document.

He told her who she was, calling her uneducated. And he said he wouldn't show her the ruling because she wasn't a party to the investigation.

She also reported that another Orda.kz journalist was simultaneously being questioned.

Later, some employees were released. 

Police took some Orda.kz employees to the station, including the editor-in-chief of the Almaty office, the news editor, and the accountant. They were escorted out of the office and placed in a vehicle.

Witnesses reported that equipment and documents were removed from the office.

Everything happens silently, without explanation, Witnesses reported what happened at the entrance to the Orda.kz office.

Orda.kz has previously stated it is facing systematic pressure — including threats, surveillance, disinformation campaigns, and attempts to seize the outlet.

The newsroom claims these actions were aimed at pushing out its leadership and taking control of the media platform.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov