Journalists of newspaper “Diapason” were detained during election survey

On April 21, in Aktobe correspondent and cameraman of newspaper“Diapason” during candidates for presidency survey were detained by policemen. Policemen marched them to police box, where they asked them to write explanatory reports.

The correspondent of newspaper “Diapason” Yuri Geist and photoreporter Vladimir Zobenko have conducted survey near bus stop “Ocean” at central avenue. They were interested in surnames of candidates for presidency and asked about it from residents of Aktobe. Journalists informed, that policeman came up to them and demanded, that they followed him to the police box. He was interested in possession of a document certifying permission, in order to conduct survey and pre-election campaigning.

In the police box, policemen inspected documents of journalists, asked them to write down explanatory reports; they demonstrated their service certificates and identity cards before cameras of external observation, then they made an apology to journalists and released them.

Comments of foundation “Adil Soz”

The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan guarantees right to everyone to have the right to freely receive and disseminate information by any means not prohibited by law (p.2. Article 20). This right is also attached in law “On Mass Media” of the Republic of Kazakhstan (p.1. Article 2.). The right to receive and disseminate information is passed by International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 19), ratified by Republic of Kazakhstan, which means obligatory for appliance.

According to law “On Law Enforcement Agencies” of the Republic of Kazakhstan, one of the major tasks of law-enforcement officers is a prevention of law violations and maintenance of public order with correct competence. The survey of citizens which was conducted by journalists, it had not been law violation, did not harm public security and it was not forbidden by law. In given case, these policemen acted unlawfully; journalists could filed a complaint with Prosecutor's Office.