Media of Kazakhstan
Encyclopedia
Kazakhstani Media are relatively free by Central Asia
n standards. However, despite press freedom being enshrined in Kazakhstan
's constitution
, monitors report that privately owned and opposition media are routinely harassed and censored. In 2004 the International Federation of Journalists identified a "growing pattern" of intimidation of the media. Reporters Without Borders
in its annual report of the same year said that "such independence remains largely theoretical because most of the media is controlled by associates of President Nursultan Nazarbayev
, notably his daughter, Dariga Nazarbayev".
All media are required to register with the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sports, with the exception of websites.
and Yel Arna. Khabar is owned by the President's daughter and therefore rarely broadcasts criticism of his policy. According to government statistics there are 116 private channels, including Kanal 31, KTK and Perviy Kanal Evraziya
, with varying coverage across the nation. American & European TV-shows are also popular in Kazakhstan.
and so all...
, control the majority of the sector.
, are available. The authorities operates one of the two national Russian-language newspapers and the only regular national Kazakh language newspaper. According to government statistics, there were 990 privately owned newspapers and 418 privately owned magazines. Those supportive of the opposition face harassment and lawsuits.
In May 2005 the Kazakh Information Ministry ordered one of the few opposition
newspapers to close. The ministry accused Respublika
of inciting ethnic hatred by publishing an interview with a Russian politician who made derogatory remarks about ethnic Kazakhstani's. Its editor, Irina Petrushova
, fled to Russia
in 2002 after intimidation and the firebombing of the paper's offices. The paper's deputy editor Galina Dyrdina called the closure politically-motivated, and vowed to appeal.
A selection of websites from Kazakhstani newspapers are given below:
for further details: List of newspapers in Kazakhstan
faces severe pressure from the government. The censorship
of online publications has become routine and arbitrary. In 2003 the state telecom firm Kazakhtelekom was ordered to block access to a dozen websites it said were 'destructive'. The pages either supported the opposition or provided neutral news coverage.
On 13 June 2005 a court in Almaty
ordered former Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev
(the opposition leader assassinated in January 2006) to pay 1 million tenges ($7,500) in damages for 'defaming' Khabar news agency. Sarsenbaev was also ordered to publicly retract comments he made in an interview with the opposition newspaper Respublika
. He had alleged that Khabar was part of a monopolistic media holding controlled by Dariga Nazarbayev. The case is believed to be in response to his resignation
after the 2004 elections. At the time he stated "The election was not fair, honest, or transparent; the authorities showed that from the beginning they didn't want honest elections."
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n standards. However, despite press freedom being enshrined in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
's constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, monitors report that privately owned and opposition media are routinely harassed and censored. In 2004 the International Federation of Journalists identified a "growing pattern" of intimidation of the media. Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
in its annual report of the same year said that "such independence remains largely theoretical because most of the media is controlled by associates of President Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union...
, notably his daughter, Dariga Nazarbayev".
All media are required to register with the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sports, with the exception of websites.
Television
Kazakhstan-1 is the state television channel of Kazakhstan. Other country-wide television stations are KhabarKhabar
The Khabar Agency is a major media outlet in Kazakhstan. It was established in 1995, known originally as the National Television News Agency. It is currently one of the largest networks in the country, and broadcasts daily in Russian and Kazakh. Additionally, Khabar runs the satellite channel...
and Yel Arna. Khabar is owned by the President's daughter and therefore rarely broadcasts criticism of his policy. According to government statistics there are 116 private channels, including Kanal 31, KTK and Perviy Kanal Evraziya
Perviy Kanal Evraziya
Perviy Kanal Evraziya is a local Kazakh television station that has been in operation since October 1997. It is one of many privately owned television stations in Kazakhstan closely monitored for any bad press about the Kazakh government that could have a detrimental effect.-Information:There are...
, with varying coverage across the nation. American & European TV-shows are also popular in Kazakhstan.
- KTK
- NTK-TV
Movies
- A historical epic Nomad set in 18th-century Kazakhstan, where a young man is destined to unite the country's three warring tribes;
- Kyz-ZhibekKyz-ZhibekKyz-Zhibek - Kazakh poetic folk legend of the 16th century, tells about the period in the Kazakh nation when the people suffered from bloody feuds. In those times each province of the Kazakh nation had its own Khan and each tried to supersede the other....
; - ShizaShizaShiza a.k.a. Schizo is a 2004 Russian language film directed by Gulshat Omarova. The film was in the official selection from Kazakhstan for the 77th Academy Awards...
; - The needle;
- Dzhambul;
- My name - Kozha;
- Lutyi;
- Kazakh story;
- The hunter;
- Abai;
- Hamlet from Suzak;
- Transsiberian express;
- Shanhai;
- Ompa;
- Kek;
- Station of love;
and so all...
Radio
The state-owned Kazakh Radio broadcasts in both official languages. A wide number of private radio stations are also available including Europa Plus, Russkoye Radio, Hit FM, Radio Azattyq and Radio Karavan. Similarly to the television market, the President's daughter and her husband, Rakhat AliyevRakhat Aliyev
Rakhat Mukhtaruly Aliyev served as the First Vice Foreign Minister in the government of Kazakhstan until February 2007 when he was appointed to his second tour as Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Austria...
, control the majority of the sector.
Newspapers
A wide range of publications, mostly supportive of the governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
, are available. The authorities operates one of the two national Russian-language newspapers and the only regular national Kazakh language newspaper. According to government statistics, there were 990 privately owned newspapers and 418 privately owned magazines. Those supportive of the opposition face harassment and lawsuits.
In May 2005 the Kazakh Information Ministry ordered one of the few opposition
Opposition (politics)
In politics, the opposition comprises one or more political parties or other organized groups that are opposed to the government , party or group in political control of a city, region, state or country...
newspapers to close. The ministry accused Respublika
Respublika (Kazakh newspaper)
Respublika is a Kazakh newspaper frequently critical of the government, which was ordered to closure in May 2005 by the Ministry of Culture, Information and Sports....
of inciting ethnic hatred by publishing an interview with a Russian politician who made derogatory remarks about ethnic Kazakhstani's. Its editor, Irina Petrushova
Irina Petrushova
Irina Petrushova is a Kazakh journalist, founder and editor-in-chief of the defunct Respublika weekly.Founded in 2000, Respublika focused on covering business and economic issues in Kazakhstan, and frequently published stories highly critical of president Nursultan Nazarbayev's regime...
, fled to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 2002 after intimidation and the firebombing of the paper's offices. The paper's deputy editor Galina Dyrdina called the closure politically-motivated, and vowed to appeal.
A selection of websites from Kazakhstani newspapers are given below:
- GAZETA.KZ Official online newspaper.
- Kazakhstanskaya Pravda
- Aykin
- Liter
- Delovaya Nedeliya (Business Week)
- Novaya Pokolenie
- Vremya
- Zhas Alash
for further details: List of newspapers in Kazakhstan
Other media
The internetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
faces severe pressure from the government. The censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
of online publications has become routine and arbitrary. In 2003 the state telecom firm Kazakhtelekom was ordered to block access to a dozen websites it said were 'destructive'. The pages either supported the opposition or provided neutral news coverage.
On 13 June 2005 a court in Almaty
Almaty
Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500...
ordered former Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev
Altynbek Sarsenbaev
Altynbek Sarsenbayuly served in the Government of Kazakhstan before becoming a political opposition leader. At the time of his death, he served as co-chairman of the opposition Naghyz Ak Zhol party....
(the opposition leader assassinated in January 2006) to pay 1 million tenges ($7,500) in damages for 'defaming' Khabar news agency. Sarsenbaev was also ordered to publicly retract comments he made in an interview with the opposition newspaper Respublika
Respublika
Respublika may refer to:* Respublika Party of Kyrgyzstan* Respublika * Respublika * Respublika * Respublika , an album by the Ukrainians...
. He had alleged that Khabar was part of a monopolistic media holding controlled by Dariga Nazarbayev. The case is believed to be in response to his resignation
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
after the 2004 elections. At the time he stated "The election was not fair, honest, or transparent; the authorities showed that from the beginning they didn't want honest elections."
External links
- Reporters Without Borders report, 2004
- IFEX: Monitoring Media Freedom Violations in Kazakhstan
- KAZINFORM: National Information Agency
- Newspapers and news sources from Kazakhstan
- Radio and Television of Kazakhstan
- Radio and Television of Kazakhstan live watch online
- Kommerceskiyi Televizioniyi Kanal in Kazakhs
- Kommerceskiyi Televizioniyi Kanal in Russian
- Kommerceskiyi Televizioniyi Kanal live watch online
- Central Asian News Service News in English
- Central Asian News Service News in Russian
- Tengrinews.kz News in English 24/7