In an era when the boundaries between national security and press freedom are increasingly contested, Akmaral Batalova offers a voice shaped by experience beyond American borders. As a journalist working in Kazakhstan’s evolving media environment, she reflects on law, accountability, and the enduring responsibility of reporters to truth and professional dignity.
From a civil liberties perspective, how do you view recent reports of American journalists being investigated by the FBI—where is the line between national security concerns and press freedom?
The current state of journalism in the United States is surprising, because historically, countries with authoritarian regimes have traditionally been accused of persecuting press freedom.
The line between national security considerations and freedom of the press must be determined by law, and journalists are required to be fully aware of it.
It is another matter,
who writes these laws and in whose interests they are adopted.
An example is Julian Assange.
From the point of view of the state, he violated the laws on national security.
From a professional point of view, he accomplished the feat of revealing the truth.
So personal knowledge, honesty, dignity and professionalism of every journalist is very important.
What safeguards should exist to prevent federal investigations from having a chilling effect on journalists who are simply doing their jobs?
It is difficult for me to answer this question because I am a citizen of foreign country and do not understand how federal laws work in the United States.
I think a lot depends on the level of awareness of the civil society itself.
If citizens actively protect journalists, the federal authorities will have to listen to public opinion, understand that journalists are doing their duty and respect their work.
But if journalists don’t do their job well, work off someone’s agenda for money, and produce fakes, society won’t protect them.
In cases where high-profile media figures face law-enforcement scrutiny or legal action, how can the public distinguish between legitimate accountability and potential political or institutional overreach?
I not aware about the United States, but in Kazakhstan we have the opportunity to hire an independent lawyer, who would defend media representatives who have come under the scrutiny of law enforcement agencies or lawsuits.
In general, in Kazakhstan there are official media outlets funded and controlled by the state.
There is also a consensus among society and the authorities about certain private mass media, since everyone knows who owns a particular media outlet, what agenda they have,
and there is a register of media funded from abroad. Therefore, if, for example, a media representative is detained, law enforcement agencies usually publicly explain which article of the country’s Criminal Code he is being held accountable for.
What steps should journalists, news organizations, and advocacy groups take right now to protect reporters while still maintaining ethical and legal standards?
In my opinion, publicity and wide public awareness are an important tool for protection
And since you asked me a question as a foreign journalist, I would suggest strengthening parallel international relations between journalists from different countries, creating some kind of community, communicating, discussing topical issues and standing up for each other if one of our colleagues is persecuted by the authorities, giving such cases international publicity.