Tag: media freedom

On 30 March, 2016, Jean-Claude Juncker met with Nursultan Nazarbayev – a dictator, who has single-handedly governed Kazakhstan for over 25 years. The President of the European Commission stated that his ‘good friend’ Nazarbayev was ‘sensitive’ to the problems of human rights.

The Open Dialogue Foundation, an international NGO active in promotion, support and protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the post-Soviet area supports a political asylum request filed to the Dutch authorities by a Turkmen citizen, Mr Uhmyt Hallyyev and his family.

On Thursday, 25 February 2016, the Open Dialogue Foundation and the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty organised a working lunch dedicated to the topic of persecution of independent media and political opposition in Central Asia.

On Tuesday, 26 January 2016, the Open Dialogue Foundation and the Estonian Member of the European Parliament Mrs Marju Lauristin (Socialists and Democrats) organised a high-level working breakfast at the European Parliament in Brussels dedicated to the topic of media freedom in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan demands that administrations of social networks disclose personal data of independent journalists, bloggers and political opponents. In retaliation for criticism, the authorities bring criminal charges of ‘spreading false information’ against inconvenient journalists.

Journalists of the online portal ‘Nakanune.kz’ Guzal Baidalinova and Rafael Balgin have been taken into custody and placed under arrest for 2 months. Their colleague, Yulia Kozlova is also facing arrest. The journalists are being prosecuted under Art. 274 of the Criminal Code of the Kazakhstan.

On 18 December 2015, police raided the editorial office of the online portal ‘Nakanune.kz’ as well as apartments of the journalists: Gyuzyal Baidalinova, Yulia Kozlova and Rafael Balgin. The journalists may face charges of ‘spreading false information’.

While rejecting criticism from the international community, Kazakhstan is tightening its grip on civil society. However, a desire to preserve its image forces authorities to resort to making some concessions in the cases of political prisoners.

The Open Dialogue Foundation welcomes the initiative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on consultations regarding the creation of a favourable space for civil society activities and the development of a report with practical recommendations on this matter.

On 11.03.2014, at the Crimean border, an aggravated robbery was committed against the film crew of the “ТК SKY TG 24” Italian television channel. Similar cases have become common on the Crimean peninsula in parallel with the start of the occupation by Russian armed forces.

The official cause of death of Kazakh journalist Igor Larra has not yet been confirmed to his family. During his life, Larra was threatened repeatedly and attacked in connection with his professional activity.

On 16 April, 2013, from 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. in the office of the organisation ‘Reporters without Borders’ (Reporter ohne Grenzen), Bryukkenshtr. 4, 10179 Berlin, a meeting with the press representatives from Kazakhstan will be held

The critical deterioration of the situation of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan has been publicly announced by representatives of Kazakhstan community and European politicians

The Appellate Court deemed the newspapers: ‘Vzglyad’ and “one media outlet ‘Respublika’” extremist. In violation of international treaties and domestic law, the Kazakh authorities have imposed censorship and prohibition of professional activities on individual journalists.

The prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to prove Askar Moldashev’s guilt; he had previously faced charges of drug possession. During the trial, gross procedural irregularities and inconsistencies in the evidence were revealed.