Solidarity action of Petropavlovsk journalists

Three months ago, in Petropavlovsk, security guards pushed the reporting team of the Khabar24 TV out of the Dostyk Mall shopping center. And soon signs prohibiting photo and video in the building appeared on the doors. The criminal case on Interfering with legal professional activity of journalist was dropped.

On November 2, on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, journalists from many TV companies came to Dostyk Mall with television cameras, microphones and cameras in solidarity with their colleagues, and asked to explain the lawfulness of the new rules. The journalists called police to the site, but the officers said that that was the management  of the shopping center that had to their rules to journalists, and since they were out of the office in the moment, no one could provide the explanation.

The spokesperson of the police department for the North Kazakhstan region Zhanar Baigazina,  commented the incident  to the reporter of the International Foundation for the protection of Freedom of Speech "Adil soz", saying that either the management of the shopping center should give an explanation about that sign, since that was their premises, or the Сhamber of entrepreneurs could explain.

Media workers who came to the rally called it unfair to drop the criminal investigation under Article 158 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan  and demanded clear comments from the local police department.