Total.kz goes offline after refusing to remove Kok-Zhailau ski project article

September 13, 2026 at 03:30 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakh news site Total.kz became inaccessible to users on September 12 after its editors refused a state official's request to temporarily remove an article about the Almaty SuperSki project at Kok-Zhailau. The site stopped opening through Kazakhtelecom, Altel, Tele2, Activ, and Kcell networks, while remaining available via Beeline. The Adil Soz media freedom foundation called the situation alarming and urged the Ministry of Culture and Information to investigate.

Key Facts

Total.kz became inaccessible on September 12 after its editors refused to temporarily remove an article about the Almaty SuperSki project at Kok-Zhailau.
The site stopped opening through Kazakhtelecom, Altel, Tele2, Activ, and Kcell networks, but remained available via Beeline.
The article, titled “Shall we turn Kok-Zhailau into the Moon?”: Almaty SuperSki project contradicts the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, was published on September 12 and cited specialists' concerns about impacts on rare plant and animal species.
The Adil Soz foundation called the situation alarming and urged the Ministry of Culture and Information to establish the legal basis for the official's request and any access restrictions.

Site Inaccessibility

Total.kz became inaccessible to users on September 12, according to a statement from the Adil Soz International Foundation for Freedom of Speech. The site stopped opening through the networks of Kazakhtelecom, Altel, Tele2, Activ, and Kcell. Access remained available through the Beeline network. The hosting provider stated that the problem was not related to its cloud infrastructure and was outside its control.

Editorial Refusal and Official Request

The article “Shall we turn Kok-Zhailau into the Moon?”: Almaty SuperSki project contradicts the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan was published on September 12. It presented specialists' opinions on the project's possible impact on the Kok-Zhailau ecosystem, including rare plant and animal species. After publication, a representative of a state body contacted Total.kz and asked the editors to temporarily hide the article. The editors refused to remove the material or restrict access to it. Shortly afterward, the site became inaccessible through the networks of several operators.

Adil Soz Response

The Adil Soz foundation described the situation as alarming. The foundation stated that the very fact of a state body asking an editorial office to hide journalistic material requires transparent legal justification. It said the subsequent restriction of access to the site through several operators' networks raises further questions about possible interference in the dissemination of socially significant information. Adil Soz called on the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan to establish the legal basis for the official's request to Total.kz and to determine whether any access restriction measures were applied to the site. The foundation emphasized that any interference in media work and restriction of access to journalistic materials must have a clear legal basis and cannot serve as a means of pressure on an editorial office.