Kazakhstan: Release Adilbekov and repeal the ‘false information’ law

The Specialised Interdistrict Criminal Court of Astana has sentenced Kazakh journalist Daniyar Adilbekov to imprisonment for disseminating ‘false information’. This verdict marks yet another troubling example of the ongoing crackdown on media freedom in Kazakhstan. ARTICLE 19 calls on the authorities to uphold media freedoms and to strengthen protections for the right to report on matters of public interest. Daniyar Adilbekov must be released, and the charges against him dropped.

In mid-October, journalist Daniyar Adilbekov was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for ‘knowingly false denunciation’ and ‘dissemination of knowingly false information’. The charges stemmed from his publications on a Telegram channel, where he alleged corruption risks involving the Vice Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, EK Akkenzhenov. The publications also mentioned the chairman of the board of Astana Airport, Yusuf Rashed Aljawder, whose employees claimed he interfered with the airport’s operations. Daniyar Adilbekov was detained in March 2024 and remained in custody until his trial began in August. In May, more than a dozen Kazakh journalists formulated a joint call to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to release Adilbekov and ensure a transparent investigation.
Civil society groups in Kazakhstan are now gathering signatures for an open letter to the president, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Daniyar Adilbekov. In the letter, they argue that the defence provided substantial evidence showing that the information shared by the journalist originated from a public source. ARTICLE 19 urges the authorities in Kazakhstan to end efforts to silence independent media and stifle discussion on issues of public interest under the guise of combatting disinformation. International freedom of expression standards clearly prohibit criminalisation of ‘disinformation’ or ‘fake news’. Any such laws are inherently vague and arbitrary, pursue no recognised legitimate aim to restrict freedom of expression, and constitute a manifestly disproportionate measure. Governments should never be allowed to police the work of journalists and determine which reports are ‘true’ or ‘false’. As can be seen in this case, ‘fake news” laws are weaponised to stifle independent journalism and deny the right of the public to be informed on matters of public interest. They produce a powerful chilling effect on the debate of government practices and policies and curb journalists’ investigations into abuses of power, including corruption. Kazakhstan must promptly repeal the provision criminalising ‘false information’, discontinue all prosecutions commenced on its basis, and provide redress to all defendants. We also reiterate our previous appeals to make profound changes in the legislative framework and law enforcement practice in Kazakhstan, which includes the repealing of the so-called ‘anti-extremist laws’, which are routinely used to target journalists, activists, and opposition voices.