Correspondent of Internet-portal "Stan. TV" Alla Stepanova thinks that somebody tries to put pressure upon her
7 october 2010
Correspondent of Internet-portal "Stan. TV"Alla Stepanova has told about her meeting with Deputy for Akim (Governor) of Ust-Kamenogorsk Askar Nurgaziev. He has advised her not to make publication about protests, otherwise she would be charged with organization of unsanctioned action. Alla Stepanova has said about unknown persons, who looked after her. Police officers have carried out planned inspection of one flat according to her registration address. Lawyer of Internet-portal "Stan.TV", Natalia Sartbayeva has said that these actions could be regarded as indirect pressure upon media worker and hindering from her professional activity.
Commentary of legal service of International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech "Adil Soz":
A journalist has a right to carry out research, receive and distribute information, visit state agencies, organizations of all forms of property, be admitted by their official individuals under article 20-21 of Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the article 20 of law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Mass Media”.
Hindrance of legal activity of the journalist by means of constraining him to distribute or refuse to distribute information constitutes corpus delicti, provided by part 1 of the article 155 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The same actions, carried out by an individual with use of his official position, which is equal to use of force or threat of its use, constitute corpus delicti, provided for by part 2 of the mentioned article of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Creation of conditions, hindering a journalist to carry out his legal rights and obligations or entirely depriving him of this opportunity, constitutes corpus delicti, provided for by the article 352 of law of Code on Administrative Violations of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Unfortunately, for all the years of its existence, our monitoring service did not register any case brought to court of criminal or administrative case for these offenses. It also did not register cases and the initiation of such cases of Ministry of Communications and Information. It is not surprising that journalists in these cases are remained unprotected practically.
Commentary of legal service of International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech "Adil Soz":
A journalist has a right to carry out research, receive and distribute information, visit state agencies, organizations of all forms of property, be admitted by their official individuals under article 20-21 of Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the article 20 of law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Mass Media”.
Hindrance of legal activity of the journalist by means of constraining him to distribute or refuse to distribute information constitutes corpus delicti, provided by part 1 of the article 155 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The same actions, carried out by an individual with use of his official position, which is equal to use of force or threat of its use, constitute corpus delicti, provided for by part 2 of the mentioned article of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Creation of conditions, hindering a journalist to carry out his legal rights and obligations or entirely depriving him of this opportunity, constitutes corpus delicti, provided for by the article 352 of law of Code on Administrative Violations of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Unfortunately, for all the years of its existence, our monitoring service did not register any case brought to court of criminal or administrative case for these offenses. It also did not register cases and the initiation of such cases of Ministry of Communications and Information. It is not surprising that journalists in these cases are remained unprotected practically.
