"Uralskaya Nedelya" Fined

Uralskaya Nedelya has been fined. Violating the law on publishing public opinion poll results was the reason for the fine. The journalists previously interviewed Oral City residents.

The editor-in-chief of Uralskaya Nedelya, Tamara Yeslyamova, said the interview had questions concerning residents' attitudes toward the NPP construction project. The prosecutor's office considered this a public survey, which, in Yeslyamova's opinion, is a misinterpretation.

We are engaged in professional journalism, but the authorities do not see the difference between the genre of interviews and public opinion polls. This hinders our activities and is an attempt to suppress freedom of speech,said Yeslyamova.

The judge found TOO "Journalistic Initiative" guilty and imposed a fine of 30 MCI (110 thousand tenge). However, the second charge against Yeslyamova as an individual was dismissed. 

Tamara Yeslyamova and her lawyer, Mereke Gabdualiyev, intend to appeal the court's decision. Yeslyamova also claimed that Majilis deputies Abzal Kuspan and Yermurat Bapi and their colleagues are preparing a letter addressed to the Supreme Court Chair. They reportedly will include a proposal to clarify the law prohibiting the conduct of public opinion polls for the media.

Uralskaya Nedelya recently released an interview on its YouTube channel with Oral residents' opinions on how they feel about the construction of a nuclear power plant. Prosecutors considered that the journalists conducted a public survey, which, by law, can only be done by state-accredited organizations.

Original Author: Artem Volkov