Media: Kazakhstan blocks Russian TV portal

Kazakh authorities have blocked Russia's Sputnik24 service, which broadcasts Russian state-controlled television channels in Kazakhstan, Kazakh media outlet Arbat Media reported on Nov.

18. The reason given by authorities was that the Russian television channels didn't have a license to operate in Kazakhstan. The order to block the channels was reportedly signed back in June.

According to the independent Russian media outlet, the Moscow Times, one of Kremlin's major propaganda television channels, RT, lists Sputnik24 as one of the platforms where its content can be viewed. Earlier on Oct.

24, Moldova also blocked access to 22 Russian media sites, saying they were being used as part of an "information war" against the country. The sites listed, all of which were Russian in origin, included popular state-run or controlled outlets like RT, NTV, Ren TV, and others.

Despite Astana's historically close ties to Moscow, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has made it clear that Kazakhstan will not recognize occupied Ukrainian regions as Russian territory. Tokayev also spoke with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in 2023, who thanked the Kazakh president for providing humanitarian aid to the country.

Russia, West fight for Kazakhstan as Astana plays both sides On the surface, Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to Kazakhstan on Nov.

9 exuded an air of business as usual.

The Russian leader was met at dawn on the tarmac of Astana airport by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev before being greeted by an official guard of honor.

The trip coinci...