Open letter of the international foundation
for protection of freedom of speech "Adil soz" to the
Minister of Internal Affaires of the Republic of Kazakhstan
To the Ministry of
Internal Affaires of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Minister of Internal
Affairs Mr. Suleymenov K.S.
Dear Kairbek
Shoshanovich!
International
foundation for protection of freedom of speech appeals o you
regarding cases of gross hindering of legal professional activity of
journalists that took place on April 1-2 near the Embassy of France
in Almaty cit.
So, on April 1
near 3 pm two strangers attacked the cameraman of the television
company “TAN”, Vadim Malakhov. Attempt to break the camera did
not work and the attackers escaped.
On April 2 at 1 pm
cameraman of the television channel “TAN”, Ruslan Tairov, was
beaten up on the same place. Having found a moment when the
journalist moved away from the cameraman, three young sturdily-build
men ran up to Tairov, after what one of them pushed the camera, two
other hit the cameraman in the jaw and head. The cameraman fell down
on asphalt. At 3 pm Ruslan Tairov was delivered for checkup to the
neuro-surgical department of the hospital # 7 of Almaty city.
At night from
April 1 to April 2 shooting-crew of the television company
“Irbis”, which was recording situation of seizure of vehicle of
Ms. Zhakiyanova, was forced to stop working on demand of the deputy
of the road police of Almaty city colonel Rogachev. However, soon
after Mr. Rogachev demanded from the television cameraman, Valery
Pavlov, to give him property of he television company - videotape
footage. Pavlov did not agree with this. On Rogachev’s order the
tape was taken away by force by group of militiamen consisting of
6-7 people, soon another detachment of police arrived, about 30
people, with batons and other ammunition. At the same time, despite
the demand of he deputy of Senate of the Parliament of the Republic
of Kazakhstan Z. Batallova to stop violence, both journalists were
beaten up and the camera was broken.
The aforementioned
journalists suffered during performance of their professional duty,
which is the realization of the constitutional right of citizens for
receipt and dissemination of information important to the public.
Due to this particular reason violent acts performed in respect of
them touch upon not only their private rights, but also represent a
menace to interests of the society at large.
In this regard we
ask you to examine the aforementioned events and bring the guilty in
gross hindering of legal professional activity of journalists to
proper responsibility. On its part the foundation “Adil soz” is
ready to provide assistance in presenting testimonial evidence and
video materials on the aforementioned events.
Sincerely,
President of the
Foundation for protection of freedom of speech “Adil soz”
T. Kaleyeva
April 2, 2002
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