OSCE media freedom representative concerned about newspaper suspensions in Kazakhstan

VIENNA, 27 September 2013 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern about recent suspensions of newspapers in Kazakhstan.

“This situation shows the urgent need for legislative reform, including abolishing the practice of suspensions from the Administrative Code,” Mijatović wrote in a letter today to Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov.

She referred to three-month suspensions handed down to Pravdivaya gazeta, Ashik Alan, and Pravda Kazakhstana for technical violations of the Administrative Code.

“Technical violations such as misstating a press run or taking a holiday break should never result in penalties as this undermines the fundamental right of freedom of expression,” Mijatović said. “Sanctions should never lead to the closure of media outlets because they deprive citizens of choices in seeking information.”

Mijatović reaffirmed the support of her office to the on-going reform of the media law in Kazakhstan. She pointed to a recent legal review provided by her office and offered to assist the authorities in drafting legislation that would meet OSCE commitments and international media-freedom standards.

The recent legal review is available here: https://www.osce.org/ru/fom/104489