Сөз бостандығын қорғау халықаралық қоры
Международный фонд защиты свободы слова
The International Foundation for Freedom of Speech Protection

Legal prosecution of participants of action in support of independent mass media

22 june 2009
There was a press conference, devoted to points of legal prosecution of participants of action in support of independent mass media (on June 24, 2009) on July 22, 2009.

Main Reader of the newspaper “Taszhargan” Yermurat Bapi, President of Public Foundation “Journalists in Trouble” Rozlana Taukina, Deputy for Chairman of the Party “Azat” Marzhan Aspandiyarova and Human Rights Activist Rizada Zhakypbek and Employee of Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Keeping of Law Andrei Sviridov.

Press Release

 

There was an action of journalistic solidarity on June 24, 2009. It was devoted to Day of Kazakhstan’s Journalism and twofold groundless refusal of City Maslikhat to give permission for conduction of meeting, dated to this holiday.

About 100 persons have taken participation in action. There were journalists, activists of political parties, readers, listeners and viewers of Kazakhstan’s mass media. Participants of action held in their hands placards in support of arrested and convicted journalists, closed and impoverished newspapers and television companies against increasing legislative pressure upon mass media. They were deprived from right for explanation of their position. This arrangement was carried out during half an hour. There was no public nuisance.

Employees of General Prosecutor’s Office have thought that it was unsanctioned meeting. There were some administrative court processes over participants and organizers of world action. On July 17, 2009 Inter District Administrative Court of Almaty has found guilty participant of meeting Rizada Zhakipbek. She was be punished with a fine in an amount up to fifty monthly assessment indices. On July 21, 2009 Chairman of the party “Azat” Bulat Abilov was fined for organization of unsanctioned meeting in accordance with court decision. Rozlana Taukina, Victor Kovtunovskiy, Alikhan Ramazanov, Ghalym Ageleuov and Zhanar Kasymbekova have received police protocols about administrative violation during one month. As a result of it there will be legal proceeding.

All protocols were made with violations some times later. There was illegal qualification of action as unsanctioned meeting or picket, lack of tribune and speakers (features of meeting); governmental or municipal institutions whose entrance will be closed by participants of action (features of picket).

In nowadays appeals are made by prior judicial decision. There is making of suit to City Akimat (Administration) of Almaty. It is connected with groundless refusals to give permission for conduction of meeting, on the eve of Day of Kazakhstan’s Journalism.
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