Kazakhstan has tightened the screws on independent media yet again.

This is no isolated incident.

On July 15th, the Foreign Affairs Ministry denied accreditation to 16 journalists from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Kazakh service, Radio Azattyq, effectively silencing their reporting.

The move drew sharp rebuke from Human Rights Watch, which condemned the government’s actions as a direct assault on press freedom and a violation of international obligations.

The journalists — all Kazakh citizens — are now barred from working, despite applying for renewed credentials well in advance.

The ministry justified the denials by citing an obscure provision that forbids foreign journalists from operating without accreditation, a legal stretch given the reporters’ citizenship and long-standing presence.

A court challenge is underway, but the government has refused mediation and delayed the proceedings.

In recent years, Radio Azattyq has faced recurring accreditation roadblocks, with 36 journalists barred in 2024, before international pressure forced a reversal.

The outlet’s reporting on corruption and rights abuses has long irked the authorities, who appear determined to muzzle dissenting voices.

Kazakhstan’s refusal to adopt UN-backed media freedom recommendations in January only underscores its increasingly authoritarian bent.

Source: HRW/Berlin, July 22, 2025