Kazakhstan Court Upholds Accreditation Ban on RFE/RL Journalists, Sparking International Outcry

ASTANA, Kazakhstan – A court in Astana has upheld the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) decision to deny accreditation to journalists from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a ruling that has drawn sharp criticism from global press freedom and human rights organisations. The court, on 20 August 2025, concluded that the Ministry's refusal was lawful, rejecting RFE/RL's administrative appeal. RFE/RL's Kazakh service, Azattyk, stated that it plans to appeal the court's decision.

The MFA initially refused accreditation to seven journalists from Azattyk and subsequently to an additional nine. The court's latest decision specifically pertained to the first group of seven journalists. A Ministry representative, Asel Mamasheva, argued in court that Azattyk's journalists had engaged in professional activities while their accreditation applications were still being processed. This, she claimed, violated the "On Mass Media" law, which was passed last year and prohibits foreign media staff and foreign journalists from operating in Kazakhstan without proper accreditation.

RFE/RL's legal representatives contended that their staff are citizens of Kazakhstan and, therefore, should not be classified as "foreign journalists". However, the judge dismissed this argument, stating that "any individual who is in contractual or other relations with a foreign mass media outlet is considered a foreign journalist". The court's decision was based on this interpretation, affirming the Ministry's position that the journalists had violated the law.

International Condemnation

The court's decision has been widely condemned by international bodies

Human Rights Watch described the ruling as a "blatant attack on the media".

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) characterised it as an "assault on press freedom and the right of journalists to carry out their profession".

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Kazakh authorities to grant accreditation, highlighting that "RFE/RL's courageous reporting plays a central role in Kazakhstan's media landscape". Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia programme coordinator, also called for Kazakhstan to reform its "overly strict foreign media accreditation laws".

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called the decision an "arbitrary political decision" and a "cynical legal deception" aimed at obstructing Azattyk's work. RSF noted that the authorities blamed journalists for continuing their work while awaiting accreditation renewal, despite RFE/RL having submitted documents in advance. RSF urged the immediate reinstatement of accreditations, arguing that the provision of the "On Mass Media" law should not apply since the specialists are Kazakh citizens.

Stephen Kapus, President of RFE/RL, stated that the decision "violates Kazakhstan's constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech" and affirmed that "journalism is not a crime." He called for greater access and a mutual commitment to resolving this dispute.

Broader Context of RFE/RL's Operations

RFE/RL, which includes Azattyk as part of its corporation, faces similar challenges in other regions. In Russia, RFE/RL, including Azattyk, has been declared an "undesirable organization". This designation imposes severe restrictions on its operations within the country.

Furthermore, RFE/RL's role in highlighting human rights issues and supporting press freedom is evident in other contexts. In Belarus, a former journalist for RFE/RL's Belarusian service, Ihar Karney, was among 16 political prisoners released following a contentious dialogue, a move acknowledged by US President Donald Trump. This illustrates the critical work RFE/RL continues to undertake across various regions, often amid significant governmental pressure.