In her comment, Balayeva emphasized that the intervention of state bodies in legal disputes could be perceived as pressure on the judicial system. She also noted the necessity for transparent and objective consideration of administrative and criminal cases concerning journalists.
“Freedom of speech in the country is of paramount importance to us. Everyone involved in disseminating information must operate within the law,” the minister added.
At the beginning of December, it became known about the investigation against the editor-in-chief of ORDA.kz, Gulnara Bazhkenova, who is accused of "deliberately spreading false information." As a result of a court ruling, she was placed under house arrest for two months.
Additionally, it was recently reported about a criminal case against the general director of the Kazakh Telegraph Agency (KazTAG), Aset Mataev, and the editor-in-chief Amir Kasenov. They became suspects following a complaint from Freedom Finance due to publications regarding alleged fraudulent actions by its management.
KazTAG believes that this case was initiated "with the aim of intimidation." According to the editorial staff, this may involve employees of the presidential administration and representatives of the "old Kazakhstan."
