(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 […]
(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 illegally filming the bank premises, which they said was prohibited. However, the journalists argued that none of the bank staff prevented them from entering the building or warned them that filming was prohibited. Furthermore, Dzhumazhanov said they were filming in places open to the public.
The journalists were released at 11:20 p.m., after being forced to give a written explanation of the incident. Their camera was returned, but without the videotape.
