Information Minister to Revise Tough Media Laws

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Friday, 20 July, 2007

Information Minister to Revise Tough Media Laws

Culture and Information Minister Ermuhamet Ertysbaev will present amendments aimed at liberalising Kazak media legislation during an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe meeting, OSCE, on July 25-26.

According to the minister, the proposed changes will include abolishing criminal punishment for defamation. The amendments were supposed to be sent for parliamentary review by July, but the media asked for more time and the changes will now be looked at by a newly elected parliament in September or October.

Kazakstan is in the final stages of its bid to chair the OSCE in 2009. Last summer, Kazakstan was heavily criticized by the OSCE for approving legal amendments that tighten state control over the media.

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