The why and the wherefore of "Uralsk Week" interrogation
On June 19, the editor of the newspaper "Uralsk Week" ("Uralskaya Nedelya") Lukpan Akhmedyarov told in Facebook about interrogation in the Department of Internal Affairs of Uralsk. As it turned out, the reason for interrogation was a comment left on the YouTube channel of the newspaper by someone named Zhan Baizhanov. The comment called people to go to the rally on June 23. The only thing the investigator wanted to know - how to find the author of the commentary. L. Akhmedyarov advised the investigator to apply to YouTube administration.
When the interrogation was over, a man in plainclothes entered the room and asked Akhmedyarov to go to another office to talk with the "bastyk" (big boss) - Muslim Zhardemov. The journalist refused to go since M. Zhardemov’ name was not in the summons. The journalist said that he would not go to talk to him until he is summoned. When Lukpan returned to the editorial office, it turned out that policemen had visited his office and home trying to serve summons, but neither his wife nor colleagues agreed to accept it.
The policeman came to the editorial office again at 7.45 PM and handed over summons, saying that the investigator Uralsk Police Directorate, captain Baurzhan Doskaliyev, summoned Akhmedyarov for interrogation as an… INVESTIGATOR. Investigator Doskaliyev said to Lukpan that he summoned him in relation to the criminal case brought against the Uralsk pensioner Bakisa Khalelova, who participated in a rally in Uralsk on May 10. Lukpan confirmed that he was aquainted with that woman, but ponited out that since the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan prohibits to perform investigative actiona after 8 PM, interrogation must be stopped. However, he could not leave the building of the Internal Affairs Directorate. Baurzhan Doskaliyev ordered to lock the doors of the building and not let Akhmedyarov out. A few minutes later, Daniyar Rakishev, the chief of the Local police service of the Internal Affairs directorate of Uralsk, criminalist with a video camera, prosecutor and head of the internal policy of the city akimat (local governing body) Erbol Kushekov arrived to the place. The prosecutor read out a clarification of the law on the inadmissibility of participation in the DVK (Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan) party and its support, since this organization was recognized as extremist by the decision of the Esil court. Akhmedyarov was asked whether he intended to go to the rally, if it would take place. Lukpan responded that as a journalist he would definitely go to cover this event and added that the Criminal Code contains an article "Obstruction of the professional activities of a journalist", and it would be a crime to detain him there on June 23 while performing his journalistic activities.
When Lukpan was about to go home, it turned out that his car had been blocked by a police car. Akhmedyarov called the traffic police. After that the owners of the police “Niva” (a type of jeep produced in Russia) came to their car quickly and drove off hastily. Later, the journalist received a phone call from the traffic police and was told that a protocol had been drawn up against the offender, and the owner of the “Niva” was fined.
Tamara Yeslyamova, publisher of the Uralsk Week, journalists Raul Uporov and correspondent of Radio Azattyk Sanat Urnaliev were also interrogated in the Department of Internal Affairs. Maria Melnikova was also served summons for interrogation.
Commentary on Adil Soz:
Rare good news: the editor of the Uralsk Week knows his civil and professional rights and can stick up to his rights. Let us remind for those who do not remember it that in accordance with Art. 20 of the RK Law "On Mass Media", a journalist has the right: "4) attend in disaster area, in rallies and demonstrations, as well as upon other forms of expression of public, group and personal interests and protest upon presentation of journalist certificate." The article of the Criminal Code, that Lukpan Akhmedyarov reffered to (Art.158 in the new edition of the Criminal Code, Art. 155 in the edition of 1998), has NEVER been enforced by courts, though journalists tried to use it in order to maintain their rights.
