Kazakhstan - June 2024

A new media bill signed into law on 19 June has been criticized by journalists and civil society for ambiguity and some restrictive provisions that they say will further restrict media freedom in the country. The law grants authorities the ability to conduct “mass media monitoring” in order to root out undefined kinds of “extremism” and reclassifies all online journalism and blogs as mass media and requires outlets to maintain a physical and accredited presence in the country. While the law has some potentially positive aspects such as granting journalists with a special legal status that could provide additional legal protections against threats and harassment, media and human rights experts argue the law will only further limit media freedom in the country and urge the government to amend or repeal it.

Update: the law went into force in August 2024 and two violations carry a penalty of a loss of accreditation for six months.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America