Kazakhstan imposes travel ban on journalist, sentences two as meat prices jump 16%
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Kazakhstan imposes a travel ban on journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov and sentences two other journalists to prison terms, according to Vlast.kz, amid a crackdown on independent media. Consumer price data shows meat prices jumped 15.9% year-on-year, while the country ranks among the worst in the region for labor rights in mining.
Media Crackdown
A court in Almaty sentenced journalist Alexandra Alyokhova to three years in prison with a suspended sentence and a three-year ban on journalism for "disseminating personal data." The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the travel ban on Lukpan Akhmedyarov as "persecution," noting a broader surge in criminal cases against independent journalists. KazTAG director Aset Matayev received a 3.5-year sentence, and editor Amir Kasenov got 1 year and 3 months, both barred from journalism over "hooliganism" and "spreading false information." Meanwhile, journalist Dinara Yegeubayeva reported that authorities opened a criminal case against her following a cycling accident, which she claims was orchestrated.
Inflation and Labor Violations
Year-on-year, meat prices rose 15.9%, gasoline 15.3%, and liquefied gas 14.9%, according to the Bureau of National Statistics. Food prices overall climbed 10.1%, non-food goods 11.7%, and paid services 9.2%. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre ranked Kazakhstan among the worst in Eastern Europe and Central Asia for labor rights and safety in the mining and metals sector.
Support Hotline Suspension
The public foundation NeMolchiKZ, which assists victims of gender-based violence, suspended its hotline operations due to funding shortages. The organization said it cannot secure stable financing to pay staff salaries.
What's Next
The Almaty prosecutor’s office filed an appeal on August 7 to reduce Alyokhova’s sentence; a hearing is pending. It remains unclear whether Kazakhstan will address international criticism of its media crackdown or the rising cost of living.
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Kazakhstan imposes travel ban on journalist, sentences two as meat prices jump 16%
