(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 2 February 2005, Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee brought charges against “Juma Times-Data Nedeli” newspaper for insulting the honour and dignity of the President under Article 318 of the Kazakhstani Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from a 12 November 2004 article entitled, “It is Time to Know Whom to Vote For”, which […]
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 2 February 2005, Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee brought charges against “Juma Times-Data Nedeli” newspaper for insulting the honour and dignity of the President under Article 318 of the Kazakhstani Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from a 12 November 2004 article entitled, “It is Time to Know Whom to Vote For”, which predicted the outcome of the presidential election. The article endorsed the hypothetical candidate Notnursultan Notabishevich Notnazarbayev, and included a profile of the imaginary contender. An investigation into the case is underway. One of the newspaper’s editors, Bahytkul Makitbayeva, has been summoned for questioning on 5 February 2005.
“Juma Times-Data Nedeli”, which was launched at the end of 2004, 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.
