Rights Groups Press Kazakhstan to End Journalist Prosecutions and Scrap 'False Information' Law

Overview

• Six international press and human‑rights groups, which sent a letter Monday, urged President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev to drop charges against journalists, free those under house arrest, and decriminalize Article 274 that targets so‑called false information.
• The cases highlighted include Orda editor Gulnara Bazhkenova under house arrest since December 1, KazTAG editor Amir Kasenov since December 24, and reporter Botagoz Omarova since March 21, all facing up to three years in custody under Article 274.
• KazTAG director Aset Matayev was assaulted with a crowbar on March 18, moved to house arrest on March 30, and the groups called for a full and transparent investigation into the attack and his case.
• The coalition detailed wider pressure on independent outlets, citing months‑long denial of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty accreditation, the blocking of ResPublika, frequent cyberattacks, takedowns of posts after orchestrated complaints, and harassment including an AI‑made hoax video.
• Kazakhstan’s Culture and Information Ministry is reviewing partial rollback of Article 274, which the groups welcomed as a start but said must be paired with concrete safeguards for journalists and free speech.