Adil Soz – International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 7 and 8 November 2006, a number of journalists and media workers were injured while covering clashes between opposition protesters and authorities in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, in the wake of a six-day anti-presidential protest organized by political party “For Reforms.” The protesters were demanding the resignation of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. […]

(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 […]

(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 […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The following is a 9 October 2006 statement by the National Association of Independent Mass Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT), an Adil Soz partner: The National Association of Independent Mass Media of Tajikistan calls on the government to repeal the decision, restricting access to a number of websites The National Association of Independent […]

(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 […]

(Adil Soz/IFEX) – Saidburkhon Kadyrov, chief editor of the youth-oriented newspaper “Bokhoro Yoshlari,” remains in critical condition after being stabbed with a knife by an unidentified young man on 13 September 2006. The journalist was taken to hospital to undergo a critical operation and was subsequently transferred to the intensive care unit, doctors say. His […]

(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, […]

(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 […]