(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The National Security Committee (NSC) has launched an investigation into journalist Kazis Toguzbayev, who has been accused of insulting the honour and dignity of the president of Kazakhstan, following a 3 May 2006 article on the website http://www.kub.kz, entitled “Mafia regime shadows the murderers of Altynbek Sarsenbayev”. In his article, the journalist […]
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The National Security Committee (NSC) has launched an investigation into journalist Kazis Toguzbayev, who has been accused of insulting the honour and dignity of the president of Kazakhstan, following a 3 May 2006 article on the website http://www.kub.kz, entitled “Mafia regime shadows the murderers of Altynbek Sarsenbayev”. In his article, the journalist criticized the authorities for their reluctance to investigate the killing of opposition politician Altynbek Sarsenbayev. Toguzbayev said the NSC actions were illegal.
Kazis Toguzbayev was summoned to the National Security Committee department for questioning. Another report, entitled “NAN supports Sarsenbayev’s murderers”, was taken from his computer by NSC officers. “Criminal prosecution of journalists for insulting the honour and dignity of the President conflicts with the principle that all citizens are equal before law, further restricting freedom of expression,” Adil Soz Foundation President Tamara Kaleyeva said.
“Insulting the honour and dignity of the president” is an offence prescribed under article 318 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan. Under this article, it is an offence to intentionally insult the president publicly. The article establishes prison terms of up to three years for persons convicted of the offence. The article reads: “A public insult or other infringement upon the honour and dignity of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan committed with the use of the mass information media shall be punished by a fine of 500 to 1,000 monthly assessment indices, or an amount equivalent to the wages or other income of the convicted person for a period of five to 10 months, or by correctional labour for a period of one to two years, or by detention for a period of up to six months, or by imprisonment for a period of up to three years.”
BACKGROUND:
On 13 February 2006, Altynbek Sarsenbayev, former minister of culture, information and sport, and his driver and bodyguard were killed near Almaty.
Sarsenbayev, regarded as one of the foremost opposition leaders, had openly supported opposition candidate Zharmakhan Tuyakbai in the presidential elections of 2005. He also chaired the opposition Ak Zhol party.
