(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 6 March 2006, following a prosecutor’s lawsuit, the Specialized Economic Inter-district Court of Almaty delivered a ruling, ordering the closure of the Zhumash-Kokberi company, owners of “Juma Times” newspaper, and the subsequent cancellation of that newspaper’s registration. The company was convicted on charges, under article 100 of the Election Campaigning Rules, […]
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 6 March 2006, following a prosecutor’s lawsuit, the Specialized Economic Inter-district Court of Almaty delivered a ruling, ordering the closure of the Zhumash-Kokberi company, owners of “Juma Times” newspaper, and the subsequent cancellation of that newspaper’s registration. The company was convicted on charges, under article 100 of the Election Campaigning Rules, of publishing falsehoods about President Nazarbayev in an attempt to affect the outcome of the presidential elections.
The lawsuit was based on a number of articles published in the newspaper, which were found by the court to be insulting to the honor and dignity of President Nazarbayev, who was running for re-election in the fall of 2005.
“Juma Times” is a radical opposition newspaper with a circulation of 100,000 copies, in publication since 2004. It has declared itself the successor to “SolDat”, an opposition paper shut down in 2003. “SolDat” newspaper was itself the successor to “Dat” newspaper, which went bankrupt in 1998 after being sued for libel.
“We believe the provision regarding ‘defamation of a candidate running for election’ in the wake of the presidential elections contradicts fundamental democratic principles. During the election period, people need as much information on every candidate as possible. However this provision restricts the right of citizens to freely receive and disseminate information. The provision has been repeatedly used to prosecute the newspapers, which have dared to publish critical reports about President Nazarbayev. ‘Juma Times’ is among them,” said Tamara Kaleyeva, President of Adil Soz.
