EU defends independent press of Kazakhstan

The European Union is deeply concerned over the recent attacks on the independent mass media of Kazakhstan, says a special statement of the European Union circulated in Brussels on Wednesday evening.

The point at issue is the act of vandalism perpetrated against the energy supply to the TAN TV company in Alma-Ata, the intentional arson of the Ak Zhaiyk publishing house on May 3 in Atyrau, the bandit attack on two journalists of the SolDat daily newspaper on May 21st which was followed by pogrom of its equipment, the act of terror with the use of the incendiary bomb on May 22 in the premises of the daily newspaper Delovoye Obozreniye - Respublika, which among other things endangered the life of many peoples who were in the building at that time.

These events give ground to doubt the security of the independent mass media in Kazakhstan in spite of the fact that they are protected by the country's constitution and its obligations taken within the framework of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe and other international agreements, among which is the agreement on partnership and cooperation concluded with the European Union, the state stresses.

The European Union, says the document, expects the authorities of Kazakhstan to immediately conduct investigation with the aim of exposing and calling to account the culprits of the acts of violence. The European Union hopes that the authorities of Kazakhstan will ensure acceptable conditions for the independent mass media to work freely.