Vinyavskiy Igor Vladimirovich(22.05.1976) – journalist, editor of the “Vzglyad” newspaper (Kazakhstan).
Background: in 2003 graduated from the Pavlodar University, in the field of journalism.
Work experience
He worked for the TVK-6 television station (Semipalatinsk), in regional newspapers, such as “Spectr”, “Nashe Delo”, “Irtysh Times.” In 2000 moved to “Irbis” – a television and radio- broadcasting company.
Since March 2007, he has been the chief editor of the “Vzglyad” newspaper (Almaty).
Awards
In 2003 Igor Vinyavskiy was awarded the “Freedom” Award, founded by the “Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan” movement for his contribution to the development of democracy in Kazakhstan.
1.02.2010. The Medeu District Court of Almaty seized copies of the “Vzglyad” newspaper. This was following a claim by Timur Kulibayev, son-in-law of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. These claims were in connection with the publishing of Mukhtar Ablyazov’s article which featured a story regarding the transfer of bribes by the Chinese corporation CNPC and corruption of the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the “Samruk-Kazyna” Fund, Timur Kulibayev (appointed 12 April 2011. After tragic events in Zhanaozen December 26, 2011, he tendered his resignation).
8.02.2010. In Vienna, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, condemned the action of the authorities and described the claims filed by senior officials in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Hungary against the local media as “dangerous attempts of censorship”.
In the spring of 2010 a lawsuit was filed against the “Vzglyad” newspaper, regarding the protection of honour and dignity of doctor Keldybaev Adil, who was dismissed from the medical institution for cheating one of his patients, Dmitry Danilov, which also was the subject of the medical committee’s report (article “The stones sometimes return», № 21 (157) issued on June 4, 2010). After the decision of the Court of First Instance, the “Vzglyad” Independent Newspaper filed an appeal, but the appeals court upheld the ruling, thus requiring to pay A. Keldybaev compensation amounting to 15 million tenge (about 100,000 dollars) for the publication.
At the end of 2010 the Tax Committee presented the newspaper editor with an accusation of tax evasion for the amount of more than 37 million tenge ($ 251,000).
26.10.2011 Igor Vinyavskiy signed a statement “On crime and unpunished provocations in the Mangistau region and on irresponsibility of the Ministry of Interior” in connection with the attacks against the strike’s activist, Estay Karashaev and against the crew of the “Stan-TV” video portal.
23.01.2012 Igor Vinyavskiy was arrested on suspicion of having committed an offence under Part 2 of Art. 170 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (calls for the violent overthrow or change of constitutional order or for a forcible violation of the unity of the Republic of Kazakhstan carried out through the media, punishable by fine or imprisonment from three to seven years). The leaflets with distribution for which I. Vinyavskiy was charged by the prosecutors, were found on April 23, 2010.
26.01.2012. In Almalinsky Court in Almaty, in private, it was decided that restrictive measures were to be applied against Vinyavskiy Igor, Vladimir Kozlov and Serik Sapargali, arrested 01/23/2012 by National Security Committee of Kazakhstan after the raids on the offices of the editorial board and the party, as well as at their homes.
28.01.2012. The Association of Polish Journalists expressed its condemnation of the arrest of Igor Vinyavskiy, chief editor of the “Vzglyad” newspaper and against the extension of his detention to 2 months.
07.02.2012. The Ukrainian Journalism Movement “Stop Censorship!” condemned the repressions which the Kazakh authorities have carried out against independent journalists.
07.02.2012. “The Committee for the Protection of Igor Vinyavskiy” was established in Kazakhstan.
15.03.2012. Igor Vinyavskiy, the editor-in-chief of the ‘Vzglyad’ opposition newspaper was released under amnesty. The release of the journalist coincided with the adoption of the resolution on Kazakhstan by the European Parliament and received positive feedback from the Freedom House organisation and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic.