The head of the Central Communications Service invented a new punishment for journalists?

10 декабря 2019

Atameken channel reporter Moldir Abdualiyeva asked two questions at a briefing with the akim of the Zhambyl region in Central Communications Service: the state of district hospitals and the scandalous story of a schoolgirl being raped in a street toilet.

December 10, 2019

The questions, according to the journalist, were asked in the most appropriate way, and the head of the region answered them in detail. “However, after the briefing, unfortunately, I had an unpleasant conversation with the head of CCS Talgat Kaliyev, who said that from this day I’m deprived of accreditation,” Moldir said on her Facebook page. When asked to explain the reason, Mr. Kaliyev answered that according to the new rules, one journalist should ask only one question! “Firstly, I warned the CCS employees both before and during the conference that I would ask two questions. Secondly, why couldn't they warn me about the such drastic measures in case of violation of the new CCS rules? Thirdly, where is the code of these very rules so that journalists can reviw them? And fourthly, does Mr. Kaliyev understand that we do not ask questions of personal interest, but in order to inform the public", - the journalist writes.

Comment by "Adil soz"

Clause 4 of Article 22 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Mass Media” stipulates: “A journalist may be deprived of accreditation, if he (she) violated the rules of accreditation or for distribution of details that do not reflect reality, discrediting honor and dignity of the state bodies, public associations and organizations, accredited him (her).”.Consequently, there should be legal grounds in the form of a court decision or other evidence that the journalist has violated the Accreditation Rules to deprive a journalist of accreditation . If there is no such evidence, then the actions of the head of the CCS T. Kaliyev are illegal. We recommend tthe journalist to send a written request to CCS whether her accreditation is still valid or not. If she is really deprived of accreditation, she should ask to provide a written order of deprivation to her and to appeal this document in court. Currently, the Rules for the Accreditation of Journalists are approved by order of the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 138 dated June 21, 2013. The Ministry developed a draft of the new Rules in February this year. After receiving numerous comments, the ministry continued to work on the project. In October Adil Soz Foundation asked the ministry about the progress of work on the project. The ministry replied that work on the project is ongoing and the text will soon be published on the Open NPA Internet portal. So presently the old Rules apply.