Kazakhstan
Independent media are under great pressure in Kazakhstan. The Kazakh media climate is one of the most restrictive in the world, ranking 122nd on the RSF World Press Freedom Index. There are few remaining independent media and they are also censored by Kazakh authorities.
The country officially left the Soviet Union in 1991 and has been run authoritatively for decades ever since. According to foreign observers, the elections do not meet international standards and the ruling party Noer Otan generally wins almost all seats. In addition to the restrictive legislation, economic pressure and defamation lawsuits that journalists and media outlets regularly face, the Kazakh government has extensive powers to block online communications like, for example, messaging services such as WhatsApp or Telegram. According to official estimates, about 30,000 websites have been blocked in the country.
Russian influences in the media
The media landscape in Kazakhstan is dominated by state media or media in the hands of the ruling elite. Few independent media can be found. The media landscape is under strong Russian influence, particularly through government-run TV stations accessible through cable or satellite networks.
Safety of journalists
Despite the relatively low number of journalists murdered in Kazakhstan, according to official figures, authorities often use physical intimidation against this group, especially when they report on demonstrations or civil unrest. Libel and defamation lawsuits are used to silence journalists, as are the concepts of "incitement to social or inter-ethnic hatred" and "extremism" which are criminal offenses by law.
Our work in Kazakhstan
Free Press Unlimited supports the independent online media channel vlast.kz. In addition, in 2021 we launched a project with the local non-profit organization Wings of Liberty to help local human rights defenders improve their social media skills.
Photo: World Bank Photo Collection.