Articles by Adil Soz – International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech
CAPSULE REPORT: Uzbekistan ranks worst in region’s generally disturbing free expression environment, says Adil Soz
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a 16 February 2007 Adil Soz report: Freedom of expression in Central Asia The free expression situation in Central Asia remains disturbing for many reasons, including: undemocratic legislative restrictions, attacks on journalists, arbitrary court rulings, obstacles to registering new independent media outlets, and illegal restrictions imposed on the receipt […]
Freedom of expression situation improved in 2006, but problems persist, says media group
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a 1 February 2007 statement by the National Association of Independent Mass Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), an Adil Soz partner: The National Association of Independent Mass Media (NANSMIT) reports that the freedom of expression situation improved in Tajikistan in 2006. Among other positive developments, the NANSMIT reports that Tajik […]
Reporter and cameraman detained, videotape seized
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 31 January 2007, at about 9:00 p.m. (local time), Channel 31 reporter Timur Djumazhanov and cameraman Nurlan Dosmagambetov were detained by security guards working for the commercial bank Nurbank in Almaty. They were taken to the Medeu District Interior Department and their camera was seized. The guards accused the journalists of […]
Court sentences journalist to two years’ imprisonment on probation for “insulting president”; lawyer to appeal
(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 […]
Companies refuse to print newspaper
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – “Uralskaya nedelya” newspaper is facing repeated obstacles to its publication following the refusal of three local printing companies to work with the paper in Uralsk, western Kazakhstan. The newspaper recently signed a contract with A-Poligrafia printing company. The contract was later terminated by the company, which said it would no longer print […]
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 […]