Kazakhstani independent journalists and representatives of civil society have written an open appeal to the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev demanding that the authorities stop discrediting and harassing independent media workers and release all journalists and bloggers who were covered the terrorist attack in Almaty.
“We, representatives of the independent media of Kazakhstan, human rights defenders and activists, have been observing how an organized campaign of harassment and discrediting against journalists has been launching since the beginning of January. Authorities are trying to equate us with terrorists and marauders, calling us accomplices of the organizers of riots and pogroms,” the authors write in their appeal.
As a confirmation of their conclusions, independent journalists cite the following facts.
Well-known Ural journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov was arrested for 10 days. Nurzhan Baimuldin, a journalist from the city of Kokshetau, received exactly the same punishment. Another independent journalist, Daryn Nursapar, was also arrested for carrying out his professional duties.
“More and more bloggers and civil journalists report repressions for taking photos and videos of events that took place in all cities of Kazakhstan. Courts in such cases violate all possible procedural norms and are not much different from passing a sentence ‘on the spot’,” the authors of the message note.
They also point out that three independent Kazakhstani media – Vlast, KazTAG and Orda.kz – were subjected to illegal blocking.
“We demand that the authorities stop the organized campaign to discredit independent journalists, human rights activists and other civilians. Law enforcement agencies should be engaged in the fight against real criminals, terrorists and conspirators, and not look for them among those who defend democratic values and basic human rights and freedoms. We demand the immediate release of all detained journalists and bloggers, as well as a public investigation into the reasons for their detention. We urge our colleagues to join this statement. We call on the citizens of Kazakhstan, as well as citizens of other states of the world, to solidarity,” the appeal concludes.
It should also be noted that in addition to the President, the open letter is also addressed to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Chairman of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan.
As ACCA has already reported, on January 3, rallies began in almost all regional centers and large cities of Kazakhstan. The protesters first demanded a reduction in the price of liquefied natural gas. Then political demands began to be heard: to dismiss the government, and for the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to finally step down from power. In response, the authorities began to block communications and disperse rallies by force, which led to even greater confrontation. On the evening of January 4, Almaty was actually captured. According to the authorities, the seizure was no longer carried out by protesters, but by specially trained militants – about 20,000 terrorists and extremists. They looted and burned the buildings of the city hall, the Prosecutor’s office and the television and radio complex, where there were offices of republican TV channels, radio stations, newspapers and magazines. In addition, shopping and entertainment centers, hardware stores, jewelry stores and other small and medium-sized businesses were looted. According to preliminary data, the damage to SMEs amounted to more than 234.9 million dollars.
“In 11 regions of the country, 1,615 affected business entities (located in 1,885 facilities) were identified, of which 1,506 entities (located in 1,771 facilities) were situated in Almaty. Industries of affected business entities: trade – 1,482; public catering – 44; financial sector – 61; logistics – 23; media – 5. According to rough estimates, the total amount of damage is more than $238 million, of which in Almaty – $234.9 million,” the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan calculated.
In addition, attacks were made on gun shops, district and city police departments, and an armory of the city department of the National Security Committee.
The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev called the riots a carefully planned operation, the purpose of which was a coup d’état.
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