Committee to Protect Journalists called Kazakhstani authorities to investigate a recent spate of attacks on independent journalists

Kazakh authorities should thoroughly investigate a recent spate of attacks on independent journalists, hold all those responsible to account, and ensure that members of the press are able to work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.

“While Kazakh police should be applauded for their swift work in apprehending suspects in two recent attacks on journalists, authorities must ensure that all the recent instances of harassment against the press are thoroughly investigated and that those who ordered them are held to account,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York.

The article describes attacks on Elmedia, Ulysmedia, Orda.kz, Vadim Boreyko and Dinara Yegeubayeva. It mentions as well  a tombstone mailed to Gulnar Bazhkenova and a funeral wreath sent to Gulzhan Yergaliyeva and other incidents.

It also mentionsFacebook post of the secretary of the President of Kazakhstan, saying that  the president had ordered a “thorough investigation” into the attacks on journalists, saying that “not only the perpetrators, but also those who ordered these illegal acts” must be identified.

CPJ emailed the Kazakhstan Ministries of Internal Affairs and Information for comment, but did not receive any replies.