Kazakhstan: Journalists Convicted Of Conducting “Opinion Polls” During Elections

Location: Kazakhstan, Almaty
Date: March 19, 2023

RSF correspondent Zhanna Baytelova and Uralskaya Nedelya's editor-in-chief Tamara Eslyamova convicted of conducting illegal opinion polls.

On March 20, journalist Zhanna Baytelova was found guilty of an "administrative offense" and fined the equivalent of $110. Baytelova was convicted of illegally conducting a public opinion poll on election day. 

Baytelova had asked voters if they planned to vote for a story for the independent media portal Respublica

According to Baytelova, the conviction is unjust and a violation of her rights as a journalist. She pleaded "not guilty" and filed for an appeal. 

Editor-in-chief of Uralskaya Nedelya, Tamara Eslyamova, was also convicted of conducting an illegal opinion poll during Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections. Eslyamova had posted an online survey on the Telegram channel Ural Week asking subscribers who they intended to vote for.  

"This is not a public opinion poll because it was not ordered or paid for…it has no poll error rate," said Eslyamova, calling the charges "baseless" in a lengthy Facebook post

Kazakhstan Elections 

Human rights organization Adil Soz documented nine additional violations against journalists during the elections, including declining access to information and obstructing filming. The violations of free press prevent full and transparent media coverage, helping establish a bond of trust between citizens and their institutions, the organization said in a press release.

Violations documented by CFWIJ

Freedom of press is in decline in Kazakhstan. According to RSF, Kazakhstan ranks 134th out of 180 countries regarding media freedom. Tactics used by the government to censor information dissemination and criticism of the regime are numerous, including arrests, assaults, arbitrary detentions, internet shutdowns, and information access hindrances.

CFWIJ has documented several violations against women journalists in Kazakhstan. 

On January 13, journalist Dinara Yegeubayeva's vehicle was set on fire outside her residence. No other cars in the area were vandalized. 

“I interpret this as an attempt at my life. Is this [what] Tokayev’s ‘new Kazakhstan’ [is supposed to look like]?” she wrote on Instagram. 

On February 5, an unidentified person threatened Yegeubayeva's son at gunpoint outside his home in Almaty. 

On July 19, 2022, a man physically assaulted journalist Olesya Vertinskaya outside her home in the Western city of Ataryu last week, days after she received threatening messages warning her against her reporting.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is outraged by the tactics used to censor journalists. We urge the Kazakh government to ensure transparent coverage of democratic elections in the country. We call on the International community to pressure the Kazakh government to provide basic security measures for journalists and protect freedom of expression. 

 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.

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