30 January 2007

Alert

Court sentences journalist to two years' imprisonment on probation for "insulting president"; lawyer to appeal


Incident details

Kazis Toguzbayev

journalist(s)

sentenced
(Adil Soz/IFEX) - On January 22, the Bostandyk district court in Almaty sentenced journalist Kazis Toguzbayev to two years in prison, on probation, under Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan for "insulting the honor and dignity of the President of Kazakhstan".

The ruling, in fact, means that the journalist, if hecontinues his critical reporting, will be thrown in prison.

The charges stem from two of his articles on the news site http://www.kub.kz entitled, "Mafia regime shadows the murderers of Altynbek Sarsenbayev" and "Roman Catholic Pope and Astana Pope - feel the difference".

Court proceedings were initiated following a report by the Justice Ministry's Center of Court Expertise, which found the articles to be insulting the honor and dignity of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, in particular the sentence: "In a certain respect, he did commit the murder of Sarsenbayev."

Both the journalist and his attorney say that the meaning of this sentence refers to a constitutional provision, which stipulates that the president is the guarantor of rights and liberties of any Kazakhstan citizen. Toguzbayev's attorney plans to appeal the court decision.



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More on this case

Journalist facing criminal charges for insulting president, tells court his intention was to help president correct mistake 11 December 2006 Journalist questioned by national security body about online article, accused of "insulting" president 29 June 2006

At a glance

Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan

IFEX members working in this country 1

 
Key reports and information
  • Attacks on the Press in 2011: Kazakhstan

    Former security agent and two accomplices charged in abduction and murder of journalist Gennady Pavlyuk

    Committee to Protect Journalists 22 February 2012

  • Press Freedom Index 2011-2012: Kazakhstan

    "In a bid to maintain a facade of stability at all costs, the Kazakh authorities have stepped up their persecution of the few independent voices and are trying to gain control of the Internet"

    Reporters Without Borders 25 January 2012

  • World Report 2012: Kazakhstan

    "The environment for freedom of expression remains restrictive"

    Human Rights Watch 22 January 2012

 
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