# Kazakhstan: new accreditation rules let officials withdraw a journalist's pass for off-topic questions

Published 2026-09-23. Last reviewed 2026-09-22. 3 sources.

Status: in effect, as of 2026-09-22.

What we don't know: The source reviewed does not report how many journalists lost accreditation for six months under the new domestic rule once it took effect.

Kazakhstan's government adopted rules allowing journalists' accreditation to be withdrawn for six months over conduct at a news event, including asking off-topic questions, while proposing separate rules letting the foreign ministry deny foreign media accreditation over any violation of Kazakh law.[1][2][3]

- Country: [Kazakhstan](https://thewaronnews.com/countries/kz)
- Where: KZ
- Level of government: National
- Tactic: Credential control
- Stage: Punish (ladder: https://thewaronnews.com/ladders/credential_control#stage-punish)
- Ladder note: A government rule lets officials withdraw a journalist's accreditation for the content of the questions asked, not only for building or event access.
- Head of government at the time: [Kassym-Jomart Tokayev](https://thewaronnews.com/leaders/kassym-jomart-tokayev)
- Issue of the day: The rules followed a period of monthslong accreditation denials against journalists with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kazakh service, Radio Azattyq, and escalating administrative charges against them for allegedly spreading false information.
- Outcome: Ongoing, September 3, 2024. The domestic accreditation rule had taken effect and the foreign media rule remained proposed, with officials not responding to requests for comment.
- Era: The 2020s

## What happened

New domestic media rules took effect in Kazakhstan on August 20, 2024, allowing a journalist's accreditation to be withdrawn for six months if they twice failed to comply with rules at news events, a category that could include asking questions considered off-topic. A day earlier, the foreign ministry had posted proposed rules that would let it deny or revoke accreditation for foreign correspondents over any violation of Kazakh law, including minor administrative offenses. The rules followed a period in which domestic journalists and correspondents for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kazakh service, Radio Azattyq, faced monthslong denials of accreditation alongside a rising number of administrative charges accusing them of spreading false information. The Committee to Protect Journalists said it emailed Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Information and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but received no reply from either.[1][2][3]

The domestic rules took effect August 20, 2024, and the foreign media rules remained proposed as of the source's publication.[1][2][3]

## What reason was given

Not stated in the sources reviewed; Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Information and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to requests for comment on the new rules.[2]

## What changed for reporting

Journalists with Radio Azattyq and other domestic reporters faced accreditation denials lasting months even before the new rules, restricting their access to official events and information.[1]

## Timeline

- 2024-08-20: Kazakhstan: new accreditation rules let officials withdraw a journalist's pass for off-topic questions

## Who acted

| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Kassym-Jomart Tokayev](https://thewaronnews.com/actors/kassym-jomart-tokayev) | other | President of Kazakhstan |

## Outlets and journalists

| Name | Kind | Relation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Radio Azattyq (RFE/RL Kazakh Service)](https://thewaronnews.com/outlets/radio-azattyq) | outlet | affected |

## Sources

1. CPJ concerned by Kazakhstan's restrictive new media accreditation. https://cpj.org/2024/09/cpj-concerned-by-kazakhstans-restrictive-new-media-accreditation/ (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-09-03).
2. Kazakh journalists worry as new media rules come into force. https://www.voanews.com/a/kazakh-journalists-worry-as-new-media-rules-come-into-force/7802843.html (Voice of America, 2024-09).
3. CPJ Expresses Concerns Over Kazakhstan's New Media Accreditation Regulations. https://www.rferl.org/a/kazakhstan-cpj-media-accreditation-law/33105583.html (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2024-09).

## Claims cited

[1] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kazakh service and domestic journalists faced monthslong accreditation denials and escalating false-information charges. Quote: "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kazakh service (Radio Azattyq) and domestic journalists faced monthslong accreditation denials and escalating administrative "false information" charges." Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-09-03. CPJ concerned by Kazakhstan's restrictive new media accreditation. https://cpj.org/2024/09/cpj-concerned-by-kazakhstans-restrictive-new-media-accreditation/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/506, checked 2026-09-22.

[2] CPJ's requests for comment to two Kazakh ministries went unanswered. Quote: "CPJ's emails to the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment did not receive any replies." Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-09-03. CPJ concerned by Kazakhstan's restrictive new media accreditation. https://cpj.org/2024/09/cpj-concerned-by-kazakhstans-restrictive-new-media-accreditation/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/507, checked 2026-09-22.

[3] The new domestic rule allows accreditation to be withdrawn for six months over repeated non-compliance at news events, including off-topic questions. Quote: "journalists' accreditation to be withdrawn for six months if they twice fail to comply with rules at news events, which could potentially include asking off-topic questions" Source: Committee to Protect Journalists, 2024-09-03. CPJ concerned by Kazakhstan's restrictive new media accreditation. https://cpj.org/2024/09/cpj-concerned-by-kazakhstans-restrictive-new-media-accreditation/ Claim: https://thewaronnews.com/claims/569, checked 2026-09-22.

Source page: https://thewaronnews.com/incidents/2024-kazakhstan-restrictive-media-accreditation-rules. The War On News, CC BY 4.0.