Statement of the International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech “Adil soz”

12 january 2023

STATEMENT

The year 2022 was marked by several high-profile criminal charges against journalists. The journalists and their defenders believe that the criminal prosecutions are caused by their professional activities. Thus we are facing dangerous precedents that threaten freedom of speech in our country and prevent Kazakhstan from fulfilling its international obligations on human rights.
It is to some extent proved by contrived excuses forconducting trial of Makhambet Abzhan and the investigating court hearings on measure of restraint for Mikhail Kozachkov and the following board of appeal behind closed doors.

Thus, the court ruled that the criminal case against M.Abzhan would not be open to public since the blogger has 11.5 thousand subscribers and it may threaten the security of the victim R.Makhat.

The court did not explain how it could violate the security of the victim and how the subscribers and affect it. Though the court allowed the victim not to attend the hearings should the trial be open to public.

If we accept such indicated logic of the court, then absolutely all trials of all journalists and other public figures will be held behind closed doors, since any journalist has a large audience, such as viewers, listeners or readers of the media where he/she works, and subscribers of his/her personal accounts in social networks.

International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech " Adil soz ” reminds that an open trial is intended to demonstrate the fairness of justice to the public, while trials of journalists and other public figures behind closed doors raise doubts about the validity of the accusation and fairness and objectivity of courts.
International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech " Adil soz ”calls to stop such practices and protect the right of the accused to an open and fair trial, in accordance with the principles of a democratic state proclaimed by the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.