Open Letter to Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Kazakhstan K.A. Mami
29 july 2009
To:
Public Prosecutor of
the Republic of Kazakhstan
K.A. Mami
Dear Kayrat Abdrazakovich!
Journalistic community of Kazakhstan has been full of trouble. They look after legal proceeding by charge of journalist, chief editor of the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” Ramazan Yesergepov of state secrets divulgation.
Department of Committee of National Security of Zhambyl region called him in testimony and then made him as accused person. He was arrested and sent to investigation cell of Zhambyl Regional Department of Committee of National Security on January 06, 2009. But, before his arrest he has been in hospital of Almaty. Now, Yesrgepov is in investigation cell of Zhambyl Regional Department of Committee of National Security.
Representative Officers of Committee of National Security have made some statements. They have explained that Yesergepov was detained, because he did not work in collaboration with law-enforcement organs. Yesergepov wanted officers of Almaty, but Zhambyl Department of Committee of National Security work with him. He worried about bias of last ones reasonably.
The charges stemmed from article “Who does rule country- President or CNS?” by Ramazan Yesergepov, published in the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” on November 21, 2008. There was publication of the letter of Head of Zhambyl Regional Department of Committee of National Security to Chairman of CNS Amangeldy Shabdarbayev. There was a opening of criminal case against company “Taraz” and founder of company Sultan Makhmadov has tried to meet with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev with goal to influence on investigative process.
There was close legal proceeding over journalist. Independent experts have made a conclusion that there were no any state secrets in documents. Illegal getting and publication was incriminated to R. Yesergepov. These documents are concerned human rights and freedoms and that is why they are not subject to state secret.
Ramazan Yesergepov has fulfilled his civil and professional debt. He has made transparent facts, having public significant importance. Yesergepov has no any service liabilities with Department of Committee of National Security of Zhambyl region did not promise to keep secrets of this department. He can not be responsible for shortcoming and blunder of some his employees. However, Public Prosecutor demanded conviction of R. Yesergepov for six year of imprisonment on legal proceeding in the court № 2 of Taraz.
We ask for you to take under your personal control of legality and well-foundedness of judgment for Ramazan Yesergepov. It is very important for Ramazan Yesergepov and has principal sense for journalistic community of Kazakhstan. This judgment can be factor of deterrence for journalists and will make slow development of pluralistic mass media, maintain constitutional principle of freedom of speech. We hope that there is not it and make sure in objectivity and knowledge of our justice.
President of Public Foundation “Journalists in Trouble” Rozlana Taukina.
President of International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil soz” Tamara Kaleyeva.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Zhas Alash” Rysbek Sarsenbay.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Svoboda slova” Gulzhan Yergalieva.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Taszhargan” Bakhytgul Makimbay.
Chairman of editorial board of the newspaper “Respublika” Irene Petrushova.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “S perom I shpagoy” Oksana Makushina.
Independent journalist Sergey Duvanov.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Kazakhstan” Sergazy Mukhtarbekov.
Deputy for Chief Editor of the newspaper “Alga” Vladimir Rodionov.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Azat” Nazira Darimbet.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “vzglyad” Igor Vinyavskiy.
Journalist Tatiana Trubacheva.
Deputy for Chief Editor of the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” Raushan Yesergepova.
Journalist Andrei Sviridov.
Chief of newspaper project “DAT” Yermurat Bapi.
Public Prosecutor of
the Republic of Kazakhstan
K.A. Mami
Dear Kayrat Abdrazakovich!
Journalistic community of Kazakhstan has been full of trouble. They look after legal proceeding by charge of journalist, chief editor of the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” Ramazan Yesergepov of state secrets divulgation.
Department of Committee of National Security of Zhambyl region called him in testimony and then made him as accused person. He was arrested and sent to investigation cell of Zhambyl Regional Department of Committee of National Security on January 06, 2009. But, before his arrest he has been in hospital of Almaty. Now, Yesrgepov is in investigation cell of Zhambyl Regional Department of Committee of National Security.
Representative Officers of Committee of National Security have made some statements. They have explained that Yesergepov was detained, because he did not work in collaboration with law-enforcement organs. Yesergepov wanted officers of Almaty, but Zhambyl Department of Committee of National Security work with him. He worried about bias of last ones reasonably.
The charges stemmed from article “Who does rule country- President or CNS?” by Ramazan Yesergepov, published in the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” on November 21, 2008. There was publication of the letter of Head of Zhambyl Regional Department of Committee of National Security to Chairman of CNS Amangeldy Shabdarbayev. There was a opening of criminal case against company “Taraz” and founder of company Sultan Makhmadov has tried to meet with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev with goal to influence on investigative process.
There was close legal proceeding over journalist. Independent experts have made a conclusion that there were no any state secrets in documents. Illegal getting and publication was incriminated to R. Yesergepov. These documents are concerned human rights and freedoms and that is why they are not subject to state secret.
Ramazan Yesergepov has fulfilled his civil and professional debt. He has made transparent facts, having public significant importance. Yesergepov has no any service liabilities with Department of Committee of National Security of Zhambyl region did not promise to keep secrets of this department. He can not be responsible for shortcoming and blunder of some his employees. However, Public Prosecutor demanded conviction of R. Yesergepov for six year of imprisonment on legal proceeding in the court № 2 of Taraz.
We ask for you to take under your personal control of legality and well-foundedness of judgment for Ramazan Yesergepov. It is very important for Ramazan Yesergepov and has principal sense for journalistic community of Kazakhstan. This judgment can be factor of deterrence for journalists and will make slow development of pluralistic mass media, maintain constitutional principle of freedom of speech. We hope that there is not it and make sure in objectivity and knowledge of our justice.
President of Public Foundation “Journalists in Trouble” Rozlana Taukina.
President of International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil soz” Tamara Kaleyeva.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Zhas Alash” Rysbek Sarsenbay.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Svoboda slova” Gulzhan Yergalieva.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Taszhargan” Bakhytgul Makimbay.
Chairman of editorial board of the newspaper “Respublika” Irene Petrushova.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “S perom I shpagoy” Oksana Makushina.
Independent journalist Sergey Duvanov.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Kazakhstan” Sergazy Mukhtarbekov.
Deputy for Chief Editor of the newspaper “Alga” Vladimir Rodionov.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “Azat” Nazira Darimbet.
Chief Editor of the newspaper “vzglyad” Igor Vinyavskiy.
Journalist Tatiana Trubacheva.
Deputy for Chief Editor of the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” Raushan Yesergepova.
Journalist Andrei Sviridov.
Chief of newspaper project “DAT” Yermurat Bapi.
