News

The Almaty City Court will hear appeals in the criminal case against journalist Alexandra Alyokhova (Sentsova) on 15 September. The hearing is scheduled for 11:30 and will be held behind closed doors.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Kazakhstan’s Kurultai to scrap new rules restricting journalists’ movement inside the parliament building and limiting their ability to question members of parliament directly.

The Kurultai has changed the rules governing journalists’ work: reporters are now expected to ask members of parliament questions only in the press centre, effectively eliminating the customary practice of speaking with them in the corridors.

8 September is the International Day of Journalists’ Solidarity. This date reminds us that journalism is not only a profession, but also a community in which mutual support and a willingness to defend our colleagues’ right to work freely and safely are especially important.

Family members of Atyrau journalist and civic activist Olesya Vertinskaya have provided the Adil Soz Foundation with video footage that contradicts the police account of her “compulsory appearance.”

The International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil Soz” expresses concern over the situation involving environmental activist Aruna Ortayeva, who was searched, taken to a police station and sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention after publishing audio recordings from a closed meeting of Almaty city administration officials.