Violations of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan. August 2017

1 august 2017

The International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech Adil Soz made a study of the situation with the right to freedom of expression, receipt and dissemination of information in Kazakhstan in August 2017.

It reports:

- - Court hearings began on the case of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Sayasi Kalam. Tribune »Zhanbolata Mamaia. The investigation suspects him of legalizing money obtained by criminal means. Zhanbolat Mamai rejects the charges.

- Supreme Court sent the case on disparagement of police major D.Rakishev’s honor and dignonty back to the appeal court to be heard by a another board. The
defendant before the court is the chief editor of “Uralsk Week” newspaper Tamara Yeslyamova.

- Police droped criminal charges against human rights defender Alexander Kharlamov. Charges under art. 174 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan were brought in February 2017. The decree on the same criminal article, instituted by the police against A. Kharlamov in March 2013, has not been issued yet.

- Lukpan Ahmedyarov, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Uralsk Week, is suspected of insulting a government representative.

- The Prosecutor General of the RK withdrew the cassation protest against journalist Biggeldy Gabdullin..

In August, 8 judicial acts were issued on cases of protection of honor, dignity and business reputation (including 1 in cassation, and 5 in appeal). Four of them were in favor of the media, journalists and citizens.

In August, the following charges were brought against media and citizens in connection with the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, the receipt and dissemination of information:

- 6 criminal charges;

- 2 claims for protection of honor, dignity and business reputation. The moral damage claims amounted to 1 million 300 thousand tenge.

Since the beginning of the year, 46 pre-trial and trial criminal charges were brought in connection with the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, instruction and dissemination of information. Claims for compensation for moral damage amounted to 174 million 960 thousand tenge in January-August. The courts collected 51 million 720 thousand tenge.

Violations of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan. August 2017

The International Foundation for the Protection of\r\nFreedom of Speech Adil Soz made a study of the situation with the right to\r\nfreedom of expression, receipt and dissemination of information in Kazakhstan\r\nin August 2017.

\r\n

It reports:

\r\n

- - Court\r\nhearings began on the case of the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Sayasi Kalam.\r\nTribune »Zhanbolata Mamaia. The investigation suspects him of legalizing money\r\nobtained by criminal means. Zhanbolat Mamai rejects the charges.

\r\n

- Supreme Court\r\nsent the case on disparagement of police major D.Rakishev’s honor and dignonty back\r\nto the appeal court to be heard by a another board. The
\r\ndefendant before the court is the chief editor\r\nof “Uralsk Week” newspaper Tamara Yeslyamova.

\r\n

- Police droped\r\ncriminal charges against human rights defender Alexander Kharlamov. Charges under\r\nart. 174 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan were brought in\r\nFebruary 2017. The decree on the same criminal article, instituted by the\r\npolice against A. Kharlamov in March 2013, has not been issued yet.

\r\n

- Lukpan\r\nAhmedyarov, editor-in-chief of the independent newspaper Uralsk Week, is\r\nsuspected of insulting a government representative.

\r\n

- The Prosecutor\r\nGeneral of the RK withdrew the cassation protest against journalist Biggeldy\r\nGabdullin..

\r\n

In August, 8\r\njudicial acts were issued on cases of protection of honor, dignity and business\r\nreputation (including 1 in cassation, and 5 in appeal). Four of them were in\r\nfavor of the media, journalists and citizens.

\r\n

In August, the\r\nfollowing charges were brought against media and citizens in connection with the exercise of the right\r\nto freedom of expression, the receipt and dissemination of information:

\r\n

- 6 criminal\r\ncharges;

\r\n

- 2 claims\r\nfor protection of honor, dignity and business reputation. The moral damage claims\r\namounted to 1 million 300 thousand tenge.

\r\n

Since the\r\nbeginning of the year, 46 pre-trial and trial criminal charges were brought in\r\nconnection with the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, instruction\r\nand dissemination of information. Claims for compensation for moral damage\r\namounted to 174 million 960 thousand tenge in January-August. The courts\r\ncollected 51 million 720 thousand tenge.