The SFK Board of Trustees voices concerns over the new Law “On Broadcasting”

The Board of Trustees of Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan expresses its grave concern over the Senate’s passage of a Law "On Broadcasting” on December 28, 2011.

We acknowledge that the Law "On Broadcasting" – in its current state – does not reflect the principal recommendations of civil society organizations, including those, participating in the Working Group, appointed by the Ministry of Communication and Information of Kazakhstan.

Neither the Law takes into consideration suggestions and legal expertise of ARTICLE 19 and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. They both reported that the Law’s provisions contradict Kazakhstan's human-rights obligations, endorsed by international agreements and commitments.

The Law hinders the further prospects for the development of national broadcasting industry because it reduces marketplace competition, increases state control of electronic media and opens the room for corruption.

Furthermore, state regulation of “destructive content,” which legislators declare as one of the Law’s key purposes, is being efficiently carried out through the existing legislation.

We believe sustainable media development should be driven by multiple forces: open and fair market competition and the rule of liberal legislation, fostered by active civic engagement and debate.

Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan calls for President Nursultan Nazarbayev to support the position of civil society organizations and national media experts – to veto the Law "On Broadcasting."