MP hopes for objective ruling on Kazakhstan opposition media

Aigul Solovyova hopes for an objective court ruling on Kazakhstan opposition media, Tengrinews.kz reports citing the parliament deputy as saying at the round table meeting called Expansion of women’s participation in Kazakhstan’s political parties. “First of all, it is within the court's competence to review this case, but on the other hand I am surprised that the prosecutors file such a lawsuit, knowing our Constitution. Our Constitution clearly declares freedom of speech, thoughts and their distribution. I think that we would make a step backwards in democracy if we close these media,” Aigul Solovyova said commenting the lawsuit of Almaty prosecutors to ban several opposition media and unregistered public unions. “We need to make the results of the inspections public, people have to know whether there have been such calls (to violence) indeed. As far as I know the legislation, such assessment requires an expert with a huge experience, yet it will be difficult even for such expert to make the judgement,” the deputy said. She also expressed hope that the court will issue an objective ruling in case the lawsuit is not recalled. “I saw and read these media myself. Of course, I don’t like a lot of what they are saying. They are biased and critical about me, too. Nevertheless, we have the Constitution that clearly states that everyone can express their opinions. But if it was not an opinion but a call, we have to view it through the prism of the people’s rights. The Constitutions does not condemn intentions and words, it condemns actions. That’s why it requires a good expert to make such an assessment in court,” the deputy said. On November 21 Almaty prosecutors applied to court with lawsuits in relation to activities of unregistered public unions Alga and Khalyk Maidany, K+ TV channel, Stan-TV and Respublika Internet websites, Voice of Respublika, Respublika and Vzglyad newspapers.