Freedom of speech is being clearly defined in Kazakhstan’s new constitution

According to the draft of Kazakhstan’s new constitution, freedom of speech and freedom to disseminate information must not infringe on the honor and dignity of others or harm citizens’ health. This was stated in the draft constitution published by the newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda.

“Freedom of speech and freedom to disseminate information must not violate the honor and dignity of others, harm citizens’ health or public morality, or disrupt public order. Censorship is prohibited,” the document says.

The draft also guarantees freedom of expression in speech, science, technology, and the arts. Except for state secrets, the right to freely obtain and disseminate information may be exercised by any means not prohibited by law.

“Calls to violently change the constitutional order, undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, disrupt public order, threaten national security, promote war, armed conflicts, social, racial, national, ethnic, or religious superiority or discord, cruelty and a culture of violence, as well as calls to commit such acts, are not permitted,” the document states.

Kazakhstan’s current constitution guarantees freedom of speech and creativity and prohibits censorship. Everyone has the right to freely obtain and disseminate information by any means not prohibited by law.

A national referendum on the draft of Kazakhstan’s new constitution will be held on March 15. Voters will be asked a single question: “Do you approve the draft Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan published in the media on February 12, 2026?”

It should be recalled that on February 11, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree to hold a nationwide referendum on the draft of the new constitution on March 15, 2026. About 84 percent of the constitutional text will be rewritten, and amendments will cover 77 articles.

At the fifth meeting of the National Kurultai held in Kyzylorda on January 20 this year, President Tokayev said the country would return to a unicameral parliament to be called the Kurultai, restore the position of vice president, abolish the position of state advisers, and introduce a number of constitutional amendments.

For reference, the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been amended six times to date, most recently in 2022.

Constitutional amendments:

1998 – The terms of the president and members of parliament were extended. 2007 – A proportional electoral system was introduced and the First President was granted the right to be elected an unlimited number of times. 2011 – Procedures for holding early presidential elections were established. 2017 – Some presidential powers were transferred to parliament and the government. 2019 – Amendments were made following the renaming of the capital to Nur-Sultan. 2022 – One-third of the constitution (33 articles) was amended through a nationwide referendum, and the presidential term was set at a single seven-year term.