Statement by the International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech and the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has released information on the use of cutting-edge spyware to wiretap journalists, politicians and civil society activists in more than 10 countries, including Kazakhstan.

the  International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech and the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan consider it unacceptable and inadmissible to spy on the activities and personal lives of representatives of the media sphere and wiretap their phones. This is more than not just a direct violation of Article 18 of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Art. 17 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is also an attempt to control and limit freedom of speech.

We demand that the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, parliament, the National Security Committee and the General Prosecutor's Office:

• Conduct an objective and maximum open investigation into this fact, making its results public;

• Name kazakhstani  journalists and activists who are in the list of Pegasus targets so that they can apply for protection of their constitutional rights;

• Revise the approach to the protection of personal data and tighten penalties for it disclosure.

The Adil Soz Foundation and the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan are aware of the importance of tracking the actions of persons suspected of criminal activity, though we declare with full responsibility that the journalistic and civil society in general cannot be classified as criminals.