Internet Shutdowns

• Past

  National shutdown

  Following political unrest in the country over rising energy prices, authorities in Kazakhstan cut off access to the Internet starting 11:00 UTC on 5 January 2022. The access appeared to be briefly and partly restored for few hours each day before being cut again. The outage continued until 10 January 2022 and by one estimate cost the Kazakhstan economy over $400 million USD. The lives of Kazakh citizens were severely disrupted as the outage affected such critical systems as banks and mobile payment systems.

  Kazakhstan

  • Start 5 January 2022 11:00 a.m.
  • End 11 January 2022 2:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 5 days, 15 hours

February 2021

• Past

  Regional shutdown

  Broadband, Mobile

  Cities of Almaty and Nur-Sultan

  The Internet was shut down in at least the Kazakhstan cities of Almaty and Nur-Sultan on 28 February 2021 during anti-government protests calling for the release of political prisoners.

  Kazakhstan

  • Start 28 February 2021 12:00 a.m.
  • End 28 February 2021 12:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 0 hours

June 2019

• Past

  Service blocking

  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

  Multiple internet providers in Kazakhstan blocked access to online streaming services as well as totally cutting the internet access for most users, two days following presidential elections; according to NetBlocks internet observatory network measurements.

  Kazakhstan

  • Start 11 June 2019 12:00 a.m.
  • End 12 June 2019 12:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 1 day
• Past

  Service blocking

  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Streaming services

  ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Reports from Kazakhstan say authorities have been arresting demonstrators in some districts of the country's largest city, Almaty, after hundreds of people gathered to protest the official results of the June 9 presidential election. Internet access in the two cities was reported to be extremely slow, preventing live streaming and making it very difficult to read social media sites.

  Kazakhstan

  • Start 9 June 2019 5:00 a.m.
  • End 10 June 2019 12:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 19 hours

May 2019

• Past

  Service blocking

  Twitter, Instagram, Telegram, YouTube

  well as news and campaign websites on 9 May 2019, according to NetBlocks internet observatory network measurements. The restrictions appear to have come into place after dissident groups called for demonstrations to take place on May 9, as Kazakhstan and former Soviet states commemorate their World War II victory.

  Kazakhstan

  • Start 9 May 2019 12:00 a.m.
  • End 19 May 2019 12:00 a.m.
  • Total Duration 17 days