H.E. Daniyal Akhmetov
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Government House
Republic Square
480091 Almaty
Republic of Kazakhstan
Fax: (011.7.3272) 63-76-33 or 63-9595
Your Excellency:
It was shocking to hear of the death of journalist, Askhat Sharipzhanov, of the on-line publication, Navigator. He was hit by a car just hours after interviewing two leading reformist politicians and died of a brain hemorrhage four days later.
The transcripts of Sharipzhanov’s interviews of Altynbek Sarsenbayev, the new information minister, and Zamanbek Nurkadilov, a major figure in the opposition to President Nursultan Nazerbayev, disappeared from his computer — as did his tape recorder. This calls into question whether his death was a random accident. Yuri Mizinov, editor-in-chief of Navigator, has reportedly said that he believes that the journalist was targeted because of his writing.
We strongly urge Your Excellency to see that a thorough investigation is conducted.
The Overseas Press Club of America, an independent organization that has defended press freedom around the world for 65 years, urges you to understand that your government has a critical responsibility to maintain your people’s right to hear from the leadership on both sides of the political aisle.
Respectfully yours,
Norman A. Schorr Kevin McDermott
Co-chairmen, Freedom of the Press Committee
cc:
Nursultan Nazarbayev
President
Office of the President
Republic Square
480091 Almaty
Republic of Kazakhstan
Fax: (011.7.3272) 63-95-95 or 63-76-33
Kanat Saudabayev
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the U.S.A.
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
1401 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Fax: (202) 232-5845
AmbassadorYerzhan Kazyhanov
Permanent Representative
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan
to the United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 586
New York, NY 10017
Fax: (212) 230-1172
Larry C. Napper
U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan
Embassy of the United States of America
99/97A Furmanov Street
Almaty
Kazakhstan
Fax: (011.7.3272) 50-24-77