Kazakshtan’s media legislation focus of OSCE-supported event

ASTANA, 27 March 2013 – A roundtable discussion supported by the OSCE Centre in Astana on the prospects for reforming Kazakhstan’s media legislation was held in Astana today.

Some 50 government officials, parliamentarians, international and national media experts as well as non-governmental and international organization representatives discussed national criminal and civil legislation related to freedom of expression.

Participants discussed media issues in view of Kazakhstan’s criminal legislation reform, including the need to decriminalize libel and defamation. They also talked about the regulation of moral compensation claims and access to information.

“Criminal liability for defamation leads to the overprotection of public officials and thus stifles dissent and debate,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. “In this regard, I hope that the final draft of the criminal legislation of Kazakhstan, which is currently under development, will fully reflect the country’s international commitments and further enable citizens to exercise their right to freedom of expression.”

“Kazakhstan’s constitution guarantees citizens’ freedom of speech and prohibits censorship. However, in many respects the criminal legislation contradicts these constitutional guarantees,” said Tamara Kaleyeva, President of the International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech. “The time has come to liberalize the media legislation to allow citizens to fully exercise their rights and freedoms in accordance with international standards.”

The event was organized jointly with the Adil Soz International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech, the Article 19 Global Campaign for Free Expression, the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan as well as the embassies of Norway and the Netherlands.