Kazakhstan Muzzles Independent Press

[Jefferson23]

February 24, 2014

Freedom House is deeply troubled by the February 24 ruling by a Kazakhstani court to shut down Pravdivaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper often critical of the government.

"Having already eliminated the country's opposition press through a 2012 ban on “extremism,” authorities are now using bureaucratic obstacles to silence even the smallest voices of dissent,” said Susan Corke, director of Eurasia programs at Freedom House. "The closing of Pravdivaya Gazeta is another setback for the press and freedom of speech.”

Authorities ordered Pravdivaya Gazerta closed because of highly technical violations of arbitrary standards set by the government. Since its first issue, published in April, the newspaper was suspended twice for three month periods and fined because of an illegible print run and the use of an incorrect date. Despite appeals by the newspaper, Kazakhstan’s courts consistently upheld the fines and suspensions.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/article/kazakhstan-muzzles-independent-press#.UwzfgYX535N

[TexasTowelie]

1. My brother-in-law is a geogolist and RWNJ who wanted to pack up and move the family to

Kazakhstan. My sister told him no and that she would ask for a divorce if he made that choice.

It is ironic that those who talk about freedom are willing to subject themselves to authoritarian regimes.

[Jefferson23]

2. Yikes..that would be one hell of a transition..not one that would appeal to me.

I take it they are remaining in the US?

[TexasTowelie]

3. Yes, he manages a uranium mine in Wyoming.

Regrettably, that's only a couple of notches better than Kahzakstan though.