News

ARTICLE 19
09 Dec 2014

On International Human Rights Day, ARTICLE 19 and our Central Asian partners — International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech (Adil Soz), National Association of Independent Mass Media of Tajikistan (NANSMIT) and Media Policy Institute (MPI) — remind the governments of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan of their obligation to protect the right to freedom of association. This is enshrined in Article 22 of the ICCPR, to which all three states are party. We therefore call on these governments to abandon amendments to their legislation, whether already proposed or currently being drafted, which attempt to restrict how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operate.

On December 05, 2014 two news which were posted on the website www.adilsoz.kz of foundation "Adil Soz", they were out of access for Internet-users. There were the following news "First trial on suit concerning closure of magazine "ADAM bol" failed to proceed further because of litigation" and "Policemen demanded that Guljan Ergalieva to provide explanatory note in written form for them concerning case over propaganda of war through magazine "ADAM bol".

On December 05, 2014 the first trial, concerning the suit of Department of Internal Policy (Almaty) on closure of magazine "ADAM bol" and its Internet-version was held in full court room of Medeu District Court of Almaty. The trial was was presided by A. Abisheva. The owner of magazine "ADAM bol" – LLP "ADAMDAR" ("PEOPLE")and editor-in-chief Guljan Ergalieva have been defendants; a well-known lawyer Sergey Utkin has been representative of defendant.

On December 04, 2014 Judge of Almaty District Court (Astana) A. Bishikeev has awarded judgment. It was connected with suit which was filed by businessmen Mukashevs (in particularly, Bakhyt and Salamat) against Chairman of Public Foundation "National Anti-Corruption Committee" Musagali Duambekov. According to this judgment Musagali Duambekov should recover KZT200000 (1USD=181.40) to everyone of plaintiffs as compensation of moral damage.

The first trial, concerning the suit of Department of Internal Policy of Almaty on closure of magazine "ADAM bol" for propaganda and agitation of war was terminated on December 05, 2014. Policemen of Bostandyk District Department of Internal Affairs attended editorial office of magazine "ADAM bol" and editor-in-chief Guljan Ergalieva. They executed an order of the Prosecutor's Office, demanded, that Guljan Ergalieva to provide explanatory note in written form for them, and were interested in her intention, or magazine "ADAM bol" in order to propagandize the war.

The trial concerning suit of Department of Internal Policy of Akimat (District Administration) Almaty against magazine "ADAM bol" will be presided by judge A. Abisheva and held in Medeu District Court of Almaty on December 05, 2014 at 10.00 a.m. We would like to remind you, that plaintiff charged magazine"ADAM bol" with propaganda and agitation of war. It was connected with publication of interview "Our Kazakh people on foreign war" on August 29, 2014. On November 20, 2014 judge A. Abisheva has issued a rule which prohibited publication of magazine "ADAM bol" prior to judgment.