Violations of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan November 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 November 2022.
In November, journalists and media most often faced such violations as:
Interfering with legal professional activity of journalist
In 79% of cases there were civil servant who obstructed journalistic work.
10 out of 19 cases of interfering with legal professional activity of journalist took place while covering early presidential elections of Kazakhstan:
- On November 7, the security of the headquarters of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev did not allow Nurgul Tapayeva and Yerzhan Amirkhanov, Radio Azattyk reporters, to enter the building. The media-representative of the Amanat party supposed that the meeting was held behind closed doors. He warned the journalists that they would not be allowed to enter anyway and offered to send a permission request.
- On the election day, November 20, journalists of six mass media – Vesti.kg , "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda", "Ulys media", "Kursiv", Radio Azattyk, Zakon.kz – could not enter the polling station to report President K.-Zh. Tokayev voting due to a long check at the entrance. The journalists of Radio Azattyk were not allowed to come in, as they were denied accreditation. Other journalists were accredited though could not enter either.
In some other cases, journalists faced bans to take photo and video at territorial polling stations.
- Threats to the media and journalists – 9.
Journalists and media faced threats of injuring them, doing harm to their relatives, damaging to their property, filing lawsuits, restricting access to websites, creating fake accounts with illegal content.
In 4 out of 9 cases, threat sources were not identified.
- On November 18, unknown people damaged the car of Dinara Egeubayeva, Dinarion Youtube channel author. They glued the wipers to the glass, lowered the wheel, filled the lock with glue.
On November 19, Dinara Egeubayeva reported another threat. Someone created 4 fake accounts on Instagram on the same day. One of the fakes linked her to Mukhtar Ablyazov, the leader of the DVK movement banned in Kazakhstan.
On November 20, an anonymous person reported police on a bomb in Egeubayeva's car. No bomb was found.
- Attacks on journalists and media - 3.
- In November the building where the Elmedia editorial office is located was attacked twice. Unknown persons smashed the windows of the entrance complex. Two suspects were detained.
- The attack was also reported by the administrators of the Pavlodar Telegram channel Kerek.pv.
The following charges were filed in connection with the exercise of the right to freedom of expression in November 2022:
- 6 civil claims and lawsuits (5 of them for protection of honor, dignity and business reputation).
- 1 administrative charge
The following charges were filed since the beginning of the year:
- 19 criminal charges (7 in court).
- 51 claims and suits in civil procedure
41 of them for protection of honor, dignity and business reputation.
Claims for compensation for non-pecuniary damage amounted to 22 million 750 thousand tenge. The courts collected 1 million 900 thousand tenge.
Total of 32 court rulings have been issued on claims for the protection of honor, dignity and business reputation. 22 of them were in favor of the defendants).
- 25 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
