The police of the Zhambyl region interrogated local journalists Daniyar Alimkul and Islambek Dastan for almost five hours, who published materials on the explosions at an ammunition depot in the Bayzak district of the Zhambyl region.
The fact that a pre-trial investigation is underway on the publications of Alimkul and Dastan was reported by colleagues of the journalists, who tried to find out the details of this investigation in the regional prosecutor’s office.
“The police refused to give details, referring to the secrecy of the investigation,” said journalist Aizhan Auelbekova. – There is no explanation of what our colleagues are accused of. We want to ask this question to the prosecutor Nurgali Abdirov. ”
She also noted that Alimkul and Dastan were also unable to provide details as they signed a non-disclosure pledge.
“As far as I know, this case concerns materials on the events in the Bayzak region,” says Auelbekova. – In particular, Daniyar Alimkul covered the topic of shell casings that were purchased by a deputy of the local elected body of the Bayzak region and were stored on the territory of one of the restaurants. It is about this publication that there are some questions. But we do not understand why, while there are questions, it has not been established what kind of resonance these materials caused, the mobile phones of our colleagues were taken away, allegedly for examination. But these publications are in the public domain on various information sites and social networks. We also do not understand what Daniyar and Islambek are accused of.”
However, the delegation of journalists did not find out anything in the prosecutor’s office. Senior assistant to the prosecutor of the Zhambyl region Akerke Izbanova said that the prosecutor was not present and offered to write an official request.
“We were unable to verify this information,” Auelbekova noted. “As they did not let us into the building of the prosecutor’s office, and the deputy prosecutors did not express a desire to meet with us.”
Meanwhile, according to unofficial data, there is information that a criminal case has been initiated against the journalists under part 3 of Article 274 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan Dissemination of knowingly false information using the media or telecommunication networks.
This article provides for punishment in the form of a fine of up to $ 21 thousand, or restriction of freedom for up to five years, or imprisonment for the same period.
Let us remind you that the explosions at the ammunition depot in the Bayzak district of the Zhambyl region took place on August 26. The explosions were caused by the burning of warehouses. As a result of the emergency, 17 people died, another 98 were injured.
And on August 29, in social networks and the media, footage appeared with a video showing an unguarded warehouse of shells and shell casings on the territory of one of the restaurants. As it turned out later, the shells were purchased by local deputy Azamat Bolatbekov for $ 197,000. He also noted that its acquisition does not pose any threat, since it is ordinary scrap metal.
A similar statement was made by the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan.
“The shell casings shown in the video are scrap metal obtained after the disposal of ammunition and sold to a private enterprise through bidding on the electronic platform. They do not pose any danger to others, ”the department noted.
Whether the interest of the police in journalists Alimkul and Dastan is connected with these publications, it was not possible to find out. However, ACCA learned that the journalists were again summoned for questioning by the police. In addition, it also became known that the Adil Soz International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Expression was involved in the case.
Leave feedback about this