Media advocacy groups protest ministry’s attempt to introduce licencing provision for publishers, point out other legislative attempts to curb free expression
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a joint statement to deputies of the Kazakh Parliament. Media advocacy organisations that have signed the letter are listed below: The journalistic community of Kazakhstan has expressed concerns over the continued attempts by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan to destroy freedom of expression, in spite of […]
Journalist facing criminal charges for insulting president, tells court his intention was to help president correct mistake
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – Journalist Kazis Toguzbayev continues to face criminal charges for insulting the honor and dignity of President Nursultan Nazarbayev under Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, after publishing two articles on news site http://www.kub.kz entitled, “Mafia regime shadows the murderers of Altynbek Sarsenbayev” and “Roman Catholic Pope and Astana Pope – […]
Media advocacy groups submit draft media law to Parliament
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 8 November 2006, Kazakh media advocacy organizations submitted a new draft media law to the Majilis (lower chamber of Parliament). The proposed media law is considered more liberal than the one currently in place. It is designed to promote the right to freely receive and distribute information, prohibit any attempt to […]
New draft law increases criminal punishment for defamation
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – Adil Soz condemns the draft law submitted the week of 9 October 2006 to the Kazakh Parliament by the government, which is, in fact, aimed to increase criminal punishment for defamation. Adil Soz believes the draft law, “On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Matters […]
Critical journalist brutally assaulted
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On the evening on 2 October 2006, the former chief editor of the opposition newspaper “Alternativa”, Albert Zhiger, was attacked by two unidentified men while on his way home, in Taraz, southern Kazakhstan. They knocked him to the ground and brutally beat him, causing him to bleed. They reportedly told him, as […]
Substantial fines imposed on “Central Asia Monitor” upheld by city court
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 6 October 2006, the city court of Almaty upheld a decision by the district court, obliging “Central Asia Monitor” newspaper staff to pay significant fines. The newspaper’s founder and publisher, Alem BG company, and journalist Sayat Musin were ordered to pay 1 million tenge (approx. US$7800) respectively, while its editor was […]
CAPSULE REPORT: CPJ urges examination of Kazakhstan’s press freedom record, says President Nazarbayev has left “repressive mark”
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: CPJ urges examination of Kazakhstan’s press freedom record Nazarbayev, visiting White House Friday, has left a repressive mark New York, September 28, 2006 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on U.S. President George W. Bush to raise concerns about Kazakhstan’s deteriorating press freedom record when […]
Journalists, media freedom advocates protest regressive media legislation
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – Media advocacy organizations and media outlets in Kazakhstan are calling on the international community and democratic forces of the country to protest the recently adopted “Yertysbayev amendments” to the country’s media legislation. The following is a joint letter to international organizations, the European Union, the European Parliament, the US Department of State, […]
Journalist charged with insulting president
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – Journalist Kaziz Toguzbayev was charged on 28 August 2006 with insulting the honor and dignity of President Nursultan Nazarbayev under article 318 of the Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from a 2 April article he wrote, titled “Roman Catholic Pope and Astana Pope – feel the difference,” on the political news site […]
Cameraman assaulted and equipment broken by authorities; media professionals accused of causing “public disturbance”
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 20 August 2006, police prevented 31 Channel-Aktau director, Stanislav Tokmashev, reporters Svetlana Sultangereyeva and Sandugash Shortanova, and cameraman Murat Bekmagambetov from carrying out their professional activities in Aktau, western Kazakhstan. The cameraman was hit over the head with a truncheon and his camera was broken by an officer. At the time […]
French journalist stabbed to death at his home
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has said it was “very shocked” by the murder of French journalist Grégoire de Bourgues at his home in Almaty on 2 August 2006 and called for an immediate investigation. De Bourgues, 24, had been in Kazakhstan since 22 April as an editorial adviser for an Athens-based firm called SML […]
Writer Zhasaral Kuanyshalin sentenced to two years in jail, freed on amnesty
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 31 July 2006, writer and opposition politician Zhasaral Kuanyshalin was sentenced at Medeu district court in Almaty for “public insult or other infringement upon the honour and dignity of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the use of the mass information media” under Article 318 of the Criminal Code […]
Website office broken into, three computers stolen
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On the night of 7-8 July 2006, unknown individuals broke into the offices of the website http://www.dialog.kz. They stole three computers and a printer, leaving other equipment and valuables untouched. The intruders entered the premises through a window. Police have launched a criminal investigation into the attack. Website project director Zhanibek Suleyev […]
Writer facing charges for “insulting” president
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 3 July 2006, the Medeu district court in Almaty held preliminary hearings in the case against opposition politician and writer Zhasaral Kuanyshalin on charges of “public insult or other infringement upon the honour and dignity of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the use of the mass information media”, […]
President signs restrictive media bill into law
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 5 July 2006, President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed into law the government bill “On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Matters related to Mass Media”, despite numerous protests from local journalists and human rights organizations. The bill, proposed by Information Minister Yermukhamet Yertysbayev on 30 […]
WAN asks president to veto proposed legislation that threatens press freedom
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 4 July 2006 WAN letter to President Nursultan Nazarbayev: His Excellency Nursultan Nazarbayev President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Office of the President 11 Mira Street 473000 Astana Kazakhstan Via facsimile: +7 3172 326-182 4 July 2006 Your Excellency, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of […]