The Inter-District Civil Court of Astana did not uphold a collective lawsuit filed by journalists against the Ministry of Culture and Information. Media representatives sought to challenge certain clauses of the new "Standard Accreditation Rules".
Specifically, the journalists considered it unlawful to require information to be published only in media outlets that had been accredited. In their view, this rule restricts the right to freely disseminate information and violates the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In this regard, in October, the journalists filed a corresponding lawsuit with the court. Representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information, meanwhile, argued that the new rules do not violate the rights of journalists, do not restrict press freedom, and do not lead to censorship.
On 11 November, the Inter-District Civil Court of Astana supported the ministry's position and ruled that the accreditation rules do not violate freedom of speech, but merely establish a procedure for obtaining and disseminating information by accredited journalists.
"The presence of the phrase 'only in the media from the person to whom the corresponding request was made' does not restrict the rights of journalists to disseminate information in the media, but merely regulates the necessity of obtaining accreditation from each media outlet in which the received information is intended to be published", – quotes Bes.media judge Rasul Karagayev.
It is worth noting that the accreditation rules were created to optimise the interaction of mass media with state bodies, regulating the accreditation process and ensuring access to information in an organised and professional manner.
Objectively, the requirement of accreditation for publishing information in several media outlets can hardly be called a restriction of journalists' rights - it is, rather, aimed at making the process more structured and transparent. Moreover, the accreditation rules do not prohibit media from posting information, for example, on social networks.
It is reported that if a journalist collaborates with several news agencies, they must submit an application for accreditation from each media outlet they work for. It is assumed that this will help avoid conflicts of interest and increase responsibility for the information provided.
Today, the mass media undoubtedly play a key role in maintaining public order, and therefore it is important that their work is based on the principles of fairness and accuracy.
In the current conditions of global political instability and possible bias from various sources, it is important to preserve the reputation of the media as a reliable source of information.