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ADIL SOZ LAUNCHES RESOURCE FOR KAZAKHSTANI JOURNALISTS AND PRESS FREEDOM ADVOCATES

Journalists and press freedom advocates in Kazakhstan who face legal harassment because of their work now have access to an important reference tool, thanks to the International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech (Adil Soz).

The IFEX member has compiled a dossier of court cases in Kazakhstan involving media outlets and journalists over the past four years, entitled "Journalists On Trial: II".

According to Ganna Krasilnikova, a legal counsellor for Adil Soz, the book is an important resource "because every journalist who experiences legal problems as a result of their professional activities can refer to the court cases it documents and the legal commentary it provides and apply that information to their own situation or use it to avoid similar situations in the future."

Covering court cases from 2001 to 2004, the book is the second of a two-part series documenting media-related court decisions in Kazahkstan over the past eight years. The first volume documented media-related court decisions from 1996 to 2000.

Elena Malygina of Adil Soz says the book series illustrates the worsening state of freedom of expression in Kazakhstan, not only because of the substance of the court decisions documented, but also because the books reflect the increasing number of such legal disputes. The first book documents 59 court decisions; the second contains approximately 150 cases. While not exhaustive, the publications are representative of a trend in Kazakhstan.

"Journalists On Trial: II" was launched at a conference hosted by Adil Soz in Almaty from 28 to 29 April 2005, on the topic "Freedom of Speech in Kazakhstan: Legislation and Practice." The conference and publication were part of a four-year project organised in partnership with the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan and supported by the European Union's Initiative for Human Rights and Democracy.

The conference served as a forum for the exchange of ideas and opinions on freedom of expression between members of parliament, administration officials, Supreme Court judges and international free expression activists and non-governmental organisations. Local journalists also attended.

Adil Soz is an independent non-governmental organisation that monitors freedom of expression and media laws in Kazakhstan.

For more information, visit: http://www.adilsoz.kz