Ministerial mountain promises to bring forth a giant, but has brought forth a mouse

We sent another request to our favorite ministry of information concerning our favorite problem - the new law on mass media. Until now, we were given promises to be invited for discussions of the concept when it would be ready, but we were not satisfied with it. This time we asked point-blank: what are the names of the members of the working group, when and how this group works and how tojoin it.

We received the answer ahead of schedule, due to the fact that several ministry leaders led by Dauren Abayev arrived at the conference titled “Media for Democracy” under the aegis of the UNESCO Almaty Office. The minister left after half an hour as usual,  but the others stayed until the last dog dies, and we managed to address straightforward questions to Bakhniyaz Karashina, the new director of the department of state policy in media at the Ministry of Social Development.

The answer was impressive and discouraging. For two years the ministry has been telling us that the work on the project is underway, but this is a long and complicated matter. It promised us to  take into account our zeal when the time comes. In fact, according to Mrs. Karashina, there is no working group yet,  the methodology for working on the draft law is still being determined  (for almost two years).

Such a respectable group of the ministerial  officials came to show its respect to UNESCO and  to discuss the draft concept of other amendments to our timeworn, but still valid media law.

 "Adil soz" opinion about this concept is available in Russian HERE.