Kazakh officials urged to exercise restraint on social media

Kazakh officials have been reminded of guidelines governing their personal social media accounts. Civil servants are being urged to avoid displaying luxury goods or expensive vacations that could raise questions about the source of their income.

What officials can post

Civil servants in Kazakhstan have been advised to follow specific rules when using social media. Official accounts of government agencies and individual officials should be used exclusively to share work-related information.

Posts on an official’s personal account must also comply with legal requirements. Labeling an account as «personal» does not exempt a civil servant from these rules.

The guidelines apply to photos, videos and status updates. Officials are prohibited from:

• Discrediting the civil service or a government agency.
• Creating a negative perception of the civil service.
• Violating anti-corruption laws.
• Creating or indicating a potential conflict of interest.
• Making offensive, obscene, provocative or demeaning statements.
• Engaging in behavior incompatible with the status of a civil servant.
• Disclosing nonpublic information.

«Particular attention should be paid to status updates, stories, photos and videos, as even a brief post can be saved and shared by other users, potentially becoming a subject of public discussion,» the East Kazakhstan region administration said.

Luxury and commercial posts

Officials have also been warned that displaying luxury goods without a legitimate source of funds to purchase them can raise questions among the public and damage their reputation.

Read also: Anxiety pills and sweet treats: Unusual gifts to Kazakhstani public servants unveiled.

Using social media to advertise or promote businesses, services or products is also prohibited.

Officials should additionally avoid posts that could be perceived as using their official position, title, state symbols, government resources or authority for personal gain.

They are also advised to avoid public disputes with citizens, colleagues or government officials, as well as insults, threats and derogatory comments or participation in contentious online discussions, the administration said.

Read also: Expert calls for travel ban on former Kazakh officials to ensure accountability.

Civil servants should remember that their conduct in public, including on social media, may be associated with the government agency they represent.