Ramazan Esergepov has been released after three years of imprisonment
6 january 2012
January 06, 2012
Chief Editor of the newspaper "Alma-Ata Info" Ramazan Esergepov has been released at 09.00 a.m. in the morning. The Head of Foundation "Journalists in Trouble" Rozlana Taukina and the Member of the Board of Foundation Andrey Sviridov have met with him near gates of the colony in Taraz.
Ramazan Esergepov was taken into custody on January 06, 2009 and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in colony of standard regime for disclosure of state secrets. The charges originated from article "Who does rule our country – President or CNS?", published in the newspaper "Alma-Ata Info" on November 21, 2008. There was information on service correspondence of the Head of Department of Committee of National Security (Zhambyl oblast), General-Major Kozbasar Nurbekov and Chairman of Committee of National Security.
Rights of R. Esergepov during investigative process and trial were violated. R. Esergepov had no either right to choose a defender, or to defend himself. The trial has been closed. The sentence in all cases is passed openly, according to Criminal Procedural Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. But, the sentence for R. Esergepov has been passed in close trial. Later, representatives of media outlets could take only materials of press release. They should make a notice of receipt. R. Esrgepov could not make an appeal for a long period from a dismissal to provide the sentence for him.
Kazakhstan and international community have expressed their disagreement, related to the sentence for R. Esergepov.
The Representative of the OSCE of Media Affairs Mikosh Kharashti has made a statement. The sentence, which was passed for R. Esergepov contravened to standards and obligations of the OSCE in media sphere.
On November 03, 2009 Ministry of Culture and Information did not inform the owner about his derigistration and cancelled registration certificate of the newspaper "Alma-Ata Info". So, disfavour newspaper has been closed without trial and will of the owner actually.
The closure and media suspension is possible upon decision of court, or owner, under article 13 of law "On Mass Media" of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan has a right to recognise invalid media registration certificate, actually it can close printed mass media by own initiative in a case, if recess in issue continued during three and more months under article 10 of law "On Mass Media" of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Chief Editor of the newspaper "Alma-Ata Info" Ramazan Esergepov has been released at 09.00 a.m. in the morning. The Head of Foundation "Journalists in Trouble" Rozlana Taukina and the Member of the Board of Foundation Andrey Sviridov have met with him near gates of the colony in Taraz.
Ramazan Esergepov was taken into custody on January 06, 2009 and sentenced to three years of imprisonment in colony of standard regime for disclosure of state secrets. The charges originated from article "Who does rule our country – President or CNS?", published in the newspaper "Alma-Ata Info" on November 21, 2008. There was information on service correspondence of the Head of Department of Committee of National Security (Zhambyl oblast), General-Major Kozbasar Nurbekov and Chairman of Committee of National Security.
Rights of R. Esergepov during investigative process and trial were violated. R. Esergepov had no either right to choose a defender, or to defend himself. The trial has been closed. The sentence in all cases is passed openly, according to Criminal Procedural Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. But, the sentence for R. Esergepov has been passed in close trial. Later, representatives of media outlets could take only materials of press release. They should make a notice of receipt. R. Esrgepov could not make an appeal for a long period from a dismissal to provide the sentence for him.
Kazakhstan and international community have expressed their disagreement, related to the sentence for R. Esergepov.
The Representative of the OSCE of Media Affairs Mikosh Kharashti has made a statement. The sentence, which was passed for R. Esergepov contravened to standards and obligations of the OSCE in media sphere.
On November 03, 2009 Ministry of Culture and Information did not inform the owner about his derigistration and cancelled registration certificate of the newspaper "Alma-Ata Info". So, disfavour newspaper has been closed without trial and will of the owner actually.
The closure and media suspension is possible upon decision of court, or owner, under article 13 of law "On Mass Media" of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan has a right to recognise invalid media registration certificate, actually it can close printed mass media by own initiative in a case, if recess in issue continued during three and more months under article 10 of law "On Mass Media" of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
