Violations of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan October 2022
The International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech "Adil Soz" conducted a study of the situation with the right to freedom of expression, receipt and dissemination of information in Kazakhstan in October 2022.
Itreports:
- Court hearings on the case of interfering with the legal professional activities of journalists began in Petropavlovsk. Khabar 24 journalists have been seeking court proceedings for almost a year and a half.
Samat Dzhakupov and Natalya Volkova, the journalists from the North Kazakhstan branch of the editorial office of the Khabar24 TV channel, and cameraman Tolegen Imanov lodge a statement with the police more than a year ago. On August 2, 2021, security officers of the Dostyk Mall shopping center pushed them out of the building. The TV team was covering the functioning of the ASHIQ program (that identifies COVID-19 status) in the Dostyk Mall.
Criminal investigation under art. 158 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Interfering with legal professional activity of journalist) was dropped for man times, but due to publicity, it was resumed again.
And so on October 10 hearings on the case of interfering with the legal professional activities of Khabar 24 TV journalists began in Petropavlovsk city court. The head of the Dostyk mall security service Sultan Sagandykov is charged with Art. 158 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Today he testified in court.
On October 27 hearing Sagandykov stated that the agreement procedure had been violated - the journalists did not agree on making video with the Dostyk Mall administration, and did not show their ASHYQ (Covid ) status. According to him, the journalists behaved aggressively, and therefore he considered that their actions constituted a terrorist threat. For unknown reason, he reminded of the January riots, although the incident took place in August 2021. When asked by the prosecutor why he did not call the police, Sagandykov replied that the journalists had called the police themselves.
The trial continues.
- A pig's head with a torn photo of editor-in-chief Gulnar Bazhkenova was sent to the editorial office of Orda.kz. The minister sympathizes, the police is investigating, time is running out.
On the evening of October 5, a pig's head with a torn photograph of editor-in-chief Gulnar Bazhkenova in its mouth was delivered to the Orda.kz editorial office in Almaty.
“This is not the first time the media outlet has faced such provocations. After endless attempts to block our website, that we have already learned to cope with, "well-wishers" have shifted to real offline world. The morning of October 4 began with threats written on the playground under the windows of the Orda.kz office. The next day, vandals spoiled the courtyard of the same playground, but this time they indicated orda.kz website. Local inhabitants came to the editorial office angry with such inscriptions, ” - Orda.kz tells.
On October 4, Gulnar Bazhkenova reported the threats to police.
Darkhan Kydyrali, minister of Information and Social Development, said that the ministry is monitoring the current situation with interferring with Orda.kz activity.
“We condemn such actions against our colleagues. We are also ready to provide legal support to Orda.kz,” the minister wrote on Facebook.
- Sandugashsh Duysenova "Vremya" reporter found a strange device under the bottom of her car.
According to KazTAG, the journalist found the device by chance: “Yesterday I noticed some trobles with my car, I thought something was wrong with the running gear, and mechanics pulled out, this thing from my car” Duisenova said in the video, showing the device.
A vehicle mechanic specified: the device was attached to the rear gearbox and a grenade affected it.
When the journalist pulled out a SIM card from the device and inserted it into her phone, she found out that this number belongs to a citizen of Kazakhstan who works in the tax office of the city of Lenger.
- 320 Kazakhstani media outlets have fulfilled all the preconditions and got admission to pre-election campaigning. The rest of media are not admitted.
On October 21 at 6 PM presidential election campaign began in Kazakhstan. It will last until 12 AM on November 19, 2022.
Election campaigning is carried out in three ways - through the media, by holding public election events, by issuing and distributing printed, audiovisual and other campaign materials.
Anastasia Shchegortsova, a member of the Central Election Commission, said at the CEC meeting : “Currently, the Central Election Commission has received 320 information messages from the media, all messages are posted on the CEC Internet resource. Those national and regional media that have not provided their price proposals are not allowed to publish or air election campaign materials.”
- Cyberbullying of the Month: Unidentified individuals posted the photo and phone numbers of ElMedia YouTube channel editor Gulzhan Yergalieva on various sex service websites. “Offers keep coming in, and I just block the phone numbers of callers. I lost count on the 246th. And the police keeps silence...", Yergalieva wrote on her Facebook page.
- 20 million cyberattacks were repelled by Cybershield within a month.
According to the data of State Technical Service JSC (GTS JSC), about 20 million cyberattacks were repelled by means of protection of the Cybershield complex within one month - from September 5 to October 5.
Attempts to disrupt the work of the websites of state bodies by DDoS attacks, that peaked intensity on September 25-28, are still ongoing. This causes delays in the Internet connection.
The State Technical Service assumes that cyber attacks are connected with ongoing social events in the country and the world, in particular, with the beginning of the electoral period in Kazakhstan. The main goal of such attacks may be a global disruption of the Kaznet infrastructure.
The following charges were filed in connection with the exercise of the right to freedom of expression in October 2022:
- 4 civil claims and lawsuits (3 of them for protection of honor, dignity and business reputation).
- 4 administrative charges
The following charges were filed since the beginning of the year:
- 19 criminal charges (7 in court).
- 45 claims and suits in civil procedure
36 of them for protection of honor, dignity and business reputation.
Claims for compensation for non-pecuniary damage amounted to 19 million 750 thousand tenge. The courts collected 1 million 800 thousand tenge.
Total of 21 court rulings have been issued on claims for the protection of honor, dignity and business reputation. 14 of them were in favor of the defendants).
- 24 administrative charges (including 7 related to January riots; 11 slander charges)
The monitoring is based on the information of the Adil Soz Foundation's reporters and publicly available information
Head of monitoring service of Adil Soz Foundation
Elena Tsoi e-mail: lena@adilsoz.kz
For all monitoring questions, you can also contact info@adilsoz.kz
