Germany is a democracy, yes. The Press is free. And still there is not much reporting about the anti-Semitic marches that took place here in recent weeks.
In other parts of the world, the media is not free, and still there are journalists who report even if their lives are being threatened. One recent example is Ermek Boltay, the editor of the website of RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service.
Ermek Boltay was attacked by a group of unknown assailants outside his home on January 18 in Almaty. He was hit with a glass bottle and kicked until he lost consciousness. Neither his wallet nor his documents were taken by the attackers.
RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin is now calling on the Kazakh government to investigate this attack and states:
“As a talented, up-and-coming independent journalist, Ermek represents the future in Kazakhstan. An attack on Ermek for doing his job would be not only an assault on RFE/RL, it would be an attack on press freedom and progress in Kazakhstan.”
Boltay had recently reported on social unrest in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city.
In a statement, Gedmin noted that Kazakhstan will assume the leadership of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Europe’s premiere human-rights watchdog, in 2010.
Ironic, isn`t it?
The attack is the second on an independent journalist in Kazakhstan in the past month. Local police say they have launched an investigation into the case.
Access to RFE/RL’s English and Kazakh-language websites were blocked for seven weeks in April 2008 by Kaztelecom, the government-controlled Internet monopoly. The websites of several political opposition movements remain blocked.
I hope Ermek Boltay recovers soon. And keeps up the good work.
“Website Editor For RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service Severely Beaten In Almaty”, January 20, 2009