Kazakhstan

President Nazarbayev has introduced increasingly severe restrictions on freedom of expression. The work of civil society is obstructed by legislation passed in 2016 to regulate foreign funding received by NGOs. The government’s plans to pass a new media law threatens to further limit independent media. Critical journalists and human rights defenders face trumped-up criminal charges and groundless defamation cases. State surveillance of online communications is pervasive and several social media users have been imprisoned on dubious ‘incitement’ charges. Freedom of assembly is also heavily restricted. Following peaceful demonstrations against land reform in 2016, protest leaders received lengthy jail sentences. Violence and hate speech against LGBT people are prevalent among politicians, the media and society.

ARTICLE 19  works to build resilience of independent journalists, civil society and activists in Kazakhstan to the range of risks they face. We support local lawyers to defend expression related cases through international human rights mechanisms and organise trainings and protection programmes for independent media outlets. Working with local partners, we engage on legislative reform: challenging proposals to introduce new restrictions. We also work to increase participation of LGBT activists in broader civil society initiatives, through capacity building and increasing activists’ abilities to protect themselves when speaking out and challenging hate speech.

02.10.2014 2 min read

Kazakhstan: Comment selected provisions of the Draft Code of Civil Procedure

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Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: Human rights NGOs under increasing pressure from the authorities
21.07.2014 13 min read

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: Human rights NGOs under increasing pressure from the authorities

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02.05.2014 9 min read

Central Asian governments must stop violating freedom of expression

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15.03.2014 32 min read

Kazakhstan UPR: ARTICLE 19 & PEN International Joint Submission

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12.12.2012 11 min read

Kazakhstan: Banning and suspension of media outlets is politically motivated censorship

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