Correspondent of newspaper “Nasha Gazeta” Michael Grishkov was suspected in infringement upon honour and dignity of the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan and impeding his activity under article 318 of Criminal Code of Republic of Kazakhstan
19 july 2010
Chief Editor of weekly "Nasha Gazeta" Olga Kolokolova was summoned by Representative Officer of Department of Committee of National Security (Kostanay region) Talgat Utiliev on July 16, 2010. The charges stemmed from article "The Present for Nazarbayev" by Michael Grishkov, which was published in the newspaper “Nasha Gazeta” in column “Opinions” on July 17, 2010.
Servicemen of Regional Public Prosecutor's Office said there were signs of “Infringement upon Honor and Dignity of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Impeding His Activity" under article 318 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Employees of Regional Public Prosecutor's Office made a letter-request and sent it to Department of Committee of National Security. It was necessary to create a expert commission and make linguistic expert examination of the article.
Earlier, in June 2010 Michael Grishkov was summoned by servicemen of Department of Committee of National Security. He has been the freelance journalist of the newspaper "Nasha Gazeta". Michael Grishkov published critical materials regularly about state power of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Representative Officer of Department of Committee of National Security (Kostanay oblast) Talgat Utiliev was interested in actual knowledge of Michael Grishkov about law on “Leader of Nation”, which was published by official media outlets on June 15, 2010. Grishkov noted that he has brought this material to the editorial office before publication of this law and it was his personal opinion.
Deputy for Chief Editor of the weekly Timur Gafurov was summoned by Representative Officer of Department of Committee of National Security (Kostanay region) Talgat Utiliev. He has made edition of this material.
Editorial staff and reporter pointed out that there was an expression of private opinion about President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He has been the same citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as the other ones. There were no any reasons to put him above the law.
Servicemen of Regional Public Prosecutor's Office said there were signs of “Infringement upon Honor and Dignity of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Impeding His Activity" under article 318 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Employees of Regional Public Prosecutor's Office made a letter-request and sent it to Department of Committee of National Security. It was necessary to create a expert commission and make linguistic expert examination of the article.
Earlier, in June 2010 Michael Grishkov was summoned by servicemen of Department of Committee of National Security. He has been the freelance journalist of the newspaper "Nasha Gazeta". Michael Grishkov published critical materials regularly about state power of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Representative Officer of Department of Committee of National Security (Kostanay oblast) Talgat Utiliev was interested in actual knowledge of Michael Grishkov about law on “Leader of Nation”, which was published by official media outlets on June 15, 2010. Grishkov noted that he has brought this material to the editorial office before publication of this law and it was his personal opinion.
Deputy for Chief Editor of the weekly Timur Gafurov was summoned by Representative Officer of Department of Committee of National Security (Kostanay region) Talgat Utiliev. He has made edition of this material.
Editorial staff and reporter pointed out that there was an expression of private opinion about President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He has been the same citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as the other ones. There were no any reasons to put him above the law.
