The Monitoring of violations of freedom of speech in August 2000

In August, the International Foundation of freedom of speech “Adil soz” received 51 reports on facts of violation of freedom of rights. 29 of them represented violation of journalists’ rights and mass media, and 22 - cases of violations, in which the mass media was incriminated.

I. The peculiarities of political social and administrative climate in the country, which determine the actual state of mass media

II. Violations of journalists’ and mass media rights

Groundless requirements during mass media’s registration

Groundless demands to discontinue mass media’s activity

Groundless refusal in accreditation of journalists

Assaults on mass media and journalists

Groundless refusal in presentation of information

Groundless demands on dissemination of information

Not taking any actions according to mass media’s reports

Unsubstantiated refusal to attend trial session

Unsubstantiated call to prosecutor’s office

Unsubstantiated decisions on seizure of mass media’s property

Violations of labor rights of journalists

III. Violations, incriminated to mass media and journalists

Groundless accusations in insult

Unsubstantiated accusations in influence on court

Accusations in extortion

Evasion of appearance in court

Demands on protection of honor, dignity and business reputation, resulting from facts of publication of some information

Groundless demands in protection of honor, dignity and business reputation, resulting from facts of publication of views, opinions and evaluation judgements

Groundless accusations in poor-quality advertisement

Demands on protection of honor and dignity, submitted by improper plaintiff

Demands on protection of copyright

Violation of commercial interests of entrepreneurs

The Monitoring was prepared according to reports of the correspondents of the Foundation “Adil soz” and mass media.  The comments made by the legal service of the Foundation “Adil soz”.  Tel/fax: 508957.  E-mail: kaleyeva@adilsoz.kz