Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE91695
2009-09-02 21:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: THE SENTENCING OF
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #1695 2452210 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O R 022153Z SEP 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 3230 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 3247
UNCLAS STATE 091695
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV OSCE KPAO PHUM PREL KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: THE SENTENCING OF
KAZAKHSTANI JOURNALIST RAMAZAN YESERGEPOV
UNCLAS STATE 091695
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV OSCE KPAO PHUM PREL KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: THE SENTENCING OF
KAZAKHSTANI JOURNALIST RAMAZAN YESERGEPOV
1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the September 3 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.
Begin text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States shares the concern expressed in the August
11 statement of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Haraszti on the case of Ramazan Yesergepov, Kazakhstani
journalist and editor of the weekly newspaper Alma-Ata Info.
After a closed trial, Mr. Yesergepov was sentenced on August
8 ) in a proceeding that was also closed to the public ) to
three years, imprisonment for allegedly disclosing state
secrets and to a two-year ban on publishing a newspaper upon
his release. We believe this conviction and harsh sentence
are inconsistent with OSCE commitments on media freedom.
Among the most valued services journalists provide to any
free and democratic society are the investigation of
injustice and the exposure of corruption. We also hope
Kazakhstan,s government will seriously consider the chilling
effect this sentence will have on journalists throughout the
country.
We urge the Government of Kazakhstan to conduct a review of
the circumstances resulting in Mr. Yesergepov,s troubling
incarceration. As Kazakhstan prepares to take on the
challenging leadership role of the OSCE in 2010, we look to
it for endorsement of and leadership on core OSCE values and
basic human rights such as freedom of expression.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV OSCE KPAO PHUM PREL KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: THE SENTENCING OF
KAZAKHSTANI JOURNALIST RAMAZAN YESERGEPOV
1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the September 3 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.
Begin text:
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
The United States shares the concern expressed in the August
11 statement of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Haraszti on the case of Ramazan Yesergepov, Kazakhstani
journalist and editor of the weekly newspaper Alma-Ata Info.
After a closed trial, Mr. Yesergepov was sentenced on August
8 ) in a proceeding that was also closed to the public ) to
three years, imprisonment for allegedly disclosing state
secrets and to a two-year ban on publishing a newspaper upon
his release. We believe this conviction and harsh sentence
are inconsistent with OSCE commitments on media freedom.
Among the most valued services journalists provide to any
free and democratic society are the investigation of
injustice and the exposure of corruption. We also hope
Kazakhstan,s government will seriously consider the chilling
effect this sentence will have on journalists throughout the
country.
We urge the Government of Kazakhstan to conduct a review of
the circumstances resulting in Mr. Yesergepov,s troubling
incarceration. As Kazakhstan prepares to take on the
challenging leadership role of the OSCE in 2010, we look to
it for endorsement of and leadership on core OSCE values and
basic human rights such as freedom of expression.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
CLINTON