Journalists at the rallies. Chronicle
4 January
Darkhan Omirbek, the head of the Azattyk radio bureau, was detained in Nur-Sultan, when he covered the protests near Asem market. The journalist was released without explanations of the reasons for his detention more than four after his lawyer interfered.
Kasym Amanzholov, the head of the Azattyk radio bureau, was detained in Almaty. He was released in an hour and a half.
Aizhan Auelbekova, a journalist of the Vremya newspaper, was detained in Taraz when she was covering an unsanctioned rally. She was taken to the district police station, where she was held for three hours. When she asked about grounds of the detention, the answer was "Because you are a participant of the rally."
5 January
Almaty. Participants of the riots attacked the offices of five TV channels in Almaty, ravaged and burned the editorial offices of the MIR, Eurasia, Kazakhstan, Khabar and KTK TV channels. None of the employees were hurt.
Almaty. Orda.kz journalists Bek Baytas and Leonid Razumov received minor injuries while covering the attack on the Almaty akimat (mayor’s office) building. Bek Bytas was hit in the face by a flash-noise grenade, Leonid Rasskazov was hit in the back by a rubber bullet.
In general, journalists note the correct attitude of both protesters and police officers towards them on the night of January 4-5. The situation changed after midday on January 5 - the rioters became aggressive and attacked journalists. Reporters had to take off their Press identification vests.
Almaty. At about 12.30 PM in Almaty two journalists of KazTAG news agency were covering the events at the cossroad of Tole bi - Nauryzbay batyr streets and were attacked by young people. The reporters were making video of rioters throwing stones at police cars. The rioters did not want to be filmed, they tried to pull out and break the video camera, rudely demanded to "get out". With the help of peaceful participants of the rally, the journalists managed to get into their car and drive away.
Almaty. At about noon, Vlast.kz photojournalist Almaz Kaisar was making a video of a column of rioters moving eastward along Tole bi street. The journalist was wearing a PRESS identification vest. He was accompanied by two people from the protesters who ensured his safety. Soon he was surrounded by about six aggressive young men in masks on their faces and with sticks in their hands. They suspected that the reporter worked for the Committee of the National Security and wanted to film the faces of the protesters that they would be bought to responsibility later. At first, peaceful protesters tried to defend the photographer, but the number of aggressive rioters grew. They snatched out the phone from Kaisar's hands and smashed it on the ground. After that, Almaz had to take off his PRESS vest and continued his work incognito.
Atyrau. At about 4 PM Farhat Abilov, Ak Zhaiyk newspaper reporter was making a video . of clashes between the rioters and the police, when aggressive bearded people approached the journalist. They were used insulting with obscene language, waved hands, pushed the reporter and threatened to smash the phone with all the content on the ground if he would not stop filming.
Aktau. Saniyash Toiken Azattyk radio reporter was covering the rally on Aktau Square, when she noticed a group of men that differed from the rest of the protesters by their unusual behavior. Bearded men , about 15 in number, stood in the center of the crowd, behaved overly aggressively, shouting calls to attack the state institution. Saniyash approached the group and warned the men that this was an attempt of a provocation, similar to the one that happened on December 16, 2011. The bearded men accused the jounalist of working for the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan. Frightened by the aggressive behavior, the journalist quickly moved away. Later she saw the protesting workers pushed those organized group away from the center of the crowd.
6th January
Almaty. Muratkhan Bazarbayev, the driver of the the Almaty TV channel reporting team, was killed, the operator of special equipment Diasken Baytibaev was wounded, a bullet hit his right hand, two fingers on his right hand were amputated.
Nurzhan Zhalaukyzy, the General Director of the Almaty TV channel told the details:
“On January 6 in the evening they went to make a video on Republic Square. They said that the army had already cleared the area. And when they turned from Al-Farabi Avenue to Furmanov street, they got under fire. "
Jan. 7
Uralsk. Journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov was arrested for 10 days on charges of participating in an unsanctioned rally. According to the journalist's brother Zhanat Akhmedyarov, Lukpan gave detailed explanations in court that he was not a participant of the rally but a reporter covering it, i.e. he performed his professional work. When protesters stated to call for destroying the administrative building, he as a responsible citizen could not keep silence and called the protesters not to fall for provocations. He recorded his words by his smartphone. The court did not take into account neither the recordings nor the testimony of the witnesses.
January 9
Aktobe. At 11.00 PM, police presenting a warrant, searched the apartment of ffreelance journalist of Orda.kz Akdar Erubaeva under a search warrant. After that the journalist was taken to the regional police department. According to Ardak, she was interrogated about her posts on social networks. Two hours later police brought her home imposing no restrictions on her.
