Freedom of Expression Falls in Late 2025, Kazakhstani Watchdog Reports

Kazakhstan’s freedom of expression fell in the final quarter of 2025, particularly in regards to press and media activity, according to a new report published on January 5 by the Legal Media Center, a local media and legal rights watchdog.

From October to December, the report says, the country’s independent media experienced a “steady narrowing of space,” with pressure on the media becoming “increasingly routine” via a range of administrative, procedural, and legal mechanisms.

“Combined with ambiguous legislation, this creates an atmosphere of self-censorship and fear in editorial offices, especially when covering sensitive topics,” the report reads. “The government actively promotes a policy of total control over the informational space, violating international standards for the protection of the right to free speech and constitutional norms.”

In their report, the Legal Media Center identified at least four different ways in which Kazakhstani press freedom has recently been affected, including legal pressure, internet censorship such as website blocking, and interference with journalist’s activities.

In addition, they say that the “overall situation” in Kazakhstan has worsened in recent months, and stands further deteriorate due to the government’s recent passage of a law banning so-called “LGBT propaganda” and recently proposed amendments aiming to force online platforms and mass media into regulating the “spread of destructive content,” set to be considered by Kazakhstan’s parliament in 2026.

The latter law, among other things, would require online platforms to register representative offices in Kazakhstan, require anonymous social media accounts with more than 5,000 followers to reveal their identity, and allow for future restriction of online resources and messaging services, according to Diana Okremova, director of the Legal Media Center.

The report also documents several instances of pressure being exerted on independent journalists and media outlets. These include the removal of content from—and closure of—Instagram and Facebook accounts run by independent journalists; the physical intimidation of journalists Vadim Boreiko and Zhanna Baitelova in Almaty and Alatau, respectively; and Vlast.kz being subjected to targeted denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in December, which repeatedly forced the outlet’s website offline.

In December, a coalition of nine human rights groups, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Civil Rights Defenders released a joint statement condemning the targeting of independent journalists and media outlets by authorities in Kazakhstan.

“Unfounded restrictions on journalists and freedom of expression are long-standing rights issues in Kazakhstan,” Mihra Rittmann, Central Asia adviser at Human Rights Watch, said. “The government needs to stop all attacks on independent journalists and media outlets and create an enabling environment for freedom of expression.”

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