Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Tuesday classified the Kazakhstan Foreign Affairs Ministry’s withholding of accreditation from 16 Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty Kazakh service journalists as a “blatant” attack on independent media. The Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, Hugh Walliamson, expressed concern about the evident escalation of stifled independent voices in Kazakhstan, identifying the rejected accreditations as a warning shot.

HRW connected the current accreditation frictions with a systematic pattern of “administrative harassment aimed at curtailing independent media in Kazakhstan.” Since 2022, authorities have repeatedly withheld accreditation from Radio Azattyq reporters. The decisions were reversed as a result of a legal challenge and international pressure.

HRW pointed out that Kazakh authorities are violating international law through ongoing restrictions. Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Kazakhstan is a party, guarantees everyone a right to hold opinions without interference, a right to freedom of expression, and a right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds.

In conclusion, Williamson reminded that “independent journalism is not a threat and should be protected, not restricted,” specifying that accreditation should not be used as a tool to control or silence journalists. HRW urged Kazakhstan to immediately grant accreditation to all Radio Azattyq journalists and urged Kazakhstan’s international partners to raise the issue directly as well.

Earlier this month, an independent media outlet known to report on corruption, inequality, gender-based violence, and political repression in Kazakhstan, Radio Azattyq, shared that seven of its journalists were not accredited, prompting the media to file an administrative lawsuit challenging the ministry’s decision. The lawsuit contends that the ministry violated “both Kazakhstan’s national legislation and its constitutional guarantees, which protect citizens’ right to freedom of speech and expression.” The ministry refused to participate in a court-proposed conciliation procedure; the hearing date is not scheduled yet.