Dozhd Highlights Pressure on Orda.kz

Journalists from the Dozhd TV channel reported on the actions of law enforcement at the Orda.kz office during their afternoon news broadcast, Orda.kz reports.

In the segment aired at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time (5:00 p.m. Astana time), Dozhd described uniformed officers entering the newsroom and detaining staff members.

According to the channel, several criminal cases have been opened against Orda.kz editor-in-chief and founder Gulnara Bazhkenova, who is suspected of disseminating false information.

Human rights activist and head of the Liberty Foundation, Galym Ageleuov, appeared on the broadcast. He suggested that the raids and detentions may be connected to Orda’s reporting on former Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu and on Khorgos “overseer” Gadji Gadjiyev.

It was Gulnara Bazhkenova and Orda who covered the events surrounding the activities of then-Foreign Minister Nurtleu and the head of customs, who controls Khorgos — Kazakhstan's customs border with China — and all the movements of money and capital around customs,
 said Galym Ageleuov.

He added that another likely factor was Orda’s coverage of the killing of Aidos Sadykov in Kyiv.

Gulnara Bazhkenova raised questions: why weren't the people suspected of the killing, special service officers, questioned? And if they were, why is their testimony not publicly known? Why wasn't their testimony shared with the Ukrainian side, which was conducting the investigation?
 the human rights activist stated.

According to Ageleuov, the cases against Bazhkenova are politically motivated.

He argued that Article 274 of the Criminal Code ("Dissemination of knowingly false information") and Article 174 ("Incitement of hatred") are being used in Kazakhstan to pressure independent journalists and bloggers.

The presidential administration, which issues commands, has established control over all media outlets and is doing everything it can to ensure they don't cross red lines. It's crucial for journalists to be free, but this freedom is currently absent in Kazakhstan. The election period is approaching, and the government is trying to control all media outlets. The worst thing is that censorship is growing, and Article 20 of the Constitution ('Freedom of speech and creativity, prohibition of censorship') is not being implemented. All journalists and bloggers are being stifled,
 the expert said.

Law enforcement raided the Orda.kz office yesterday morning. Without presenting warrants or allowing defense lawyers to enter, officers began searching the premises and questioning journalists.

According to attorneys, SOBR officers pushed them out of the building. 

The editorial staff had been without communication all day. Journalists reported rude treatment by investigators and said they were denied food and held for more than five hours without contact with family or colleagues.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya