Subject: A Jalal-Abad based independent journalist convicted for libel.
From: Alisher Khamidov (alisher@infotel.kg)
Date: Mon Jun 19 2000 - 19:37:51 EDT
"The persecution of southern Kyrghyzstan journalists continues"
or "The Echo of parliamentary Elections in Kyghyzstan"
Jalal-Abad, Kyrghyzstan: Today, on June 19th, Jalal Abad city court has
sentenced an independent journalist Ibraimov Moldosali from the town of
Jalal-Abad for 2 years of imprisonment based on incriminations described in
the article 127 (part 2) of the Kyrghyz Republic's Criminal Code -LIBEL.
Moldosali Ibragimov was punished for his article under the title "Sudia
kilmizh jasadibi?" ( translation from Kyrghyz:"Has the judge commited a
crime?") that was published in Jalal -Abad weekly newspaper "Akikat" on
April 13th, 2000.
Ibraimov's article dealt and described a number of law violations commited
by the judge - Kasymbekov Toktosun- of Suzak rayon (administrative unit of
Jalal-Abad province) court in the court hearings that took place between the
first round (February 20th) and the second round (March 12th) of the
parliamentary elections in southern Kyrghyzstan. The hearing was initiated
by rival candidates from Suzak rayon voting constituency (Marat Bakiev vs.
Turdubek Chekiev) who filed suits against each other after finding law
violations in the elections campaign of the rival. The journalist monitored
the court hearings. Finding a number of law violations commited by the
judge, Ibraimov Moldosali published his article, in which he accused
Kasymbekov Toktosun ( the judge) of accepting a bribe amounting to 15
thousand USD from one of the running candidates -Turdubek Chekiev and making
a ruling favourable to him.
In May, the judge Kasymbekov Toktosun accused the journalist Ibraimov
Moldosali of libel and had filed a law suit that demanded a total of
1,000,000 soms as compensation for moral damage caused to him by the
article. The investigation took place in May and the case was brought to
the Jalal-Abad city court, which found the journalist guilty and sentenced
him for 2 years imprisonment. Moreover, the court ruling imposed the fine
amounting to 100 thousand soms on the newspaper "Akikat", which published
the article.
The editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Mr. Orunbekov Bakyt, does not agree
with the verdict. The Osh Media Resource Center, a media development
organization, Ibraimov Moldosali (convicted journalist) and the newspaper
are determined to appeal the decision of the Jalal-Abad court to highger
institutions ( Jalal-Abad oblast court, the Supreme Court).
Today, on June 19th, after the court announced its verdict, Ibraimov
Moldosali was arrested and taken to preliminary detention institution. Osh
Media Resource Center has sent its team (consisting of a journalist, lawyer
and OMRC director to start the process of appealing).
Tomorrow, on June 20th, another journalist from Osh - Khakimjon-Khusanov,
who is accused of incitement of interethnic hostilities, will be facing the
final hearing of his case in the Osh town's court.
For more information, please contact:
Alisher Khamidov, Director/Osh Media Center
email: alisher@infotel.kg
tel/fax: (03222) 2-08-58
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