Kazakhstan Minister of culture and Information has complaint against a TV-channel again

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Station program editor of analytical Portrait of the Week program at Commercial TV-Channel (CTVC) Tatyana Lisitskaya labeled warning of Kazakhstan Minister of Culture and Information Ermukhamet Ertysbayev, published on April 29 by Kazakhstan Today newspaper citing Epokha newspaper, that the CTVC may be deprived of its license as ambitions, expressing her own opinion on the question to a REGNUM correspondent on April 30.

As the REGNUM correspondent stresses, according to the released information, Minister Ertysbayev accused the CTVC of strongly pressing country’s leadership after Altynbek Sarsenbayev was murdered. The minister stated that after Atynbek Sarsenbayev’s murdering CTVC was strongly pressing country’s leadership for several days. According to him, the CTVC tries to pervert the whole picture and to represent him in unfavorable light, being assured that they will stay unpunished. As the REGNUM correspondent reminds, ex-Minister of Information, ex-Secretary of Kazakhstan Security Council, ex-Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia, one of leaders of opposition Ak Zhol (Light Way) Party (later Real Ak Zhol Party) Altynbek Sarsenbayev was murdered near Alma-Ata on February 11 2006.

“We will set deadline to bring broadcasting in correspondence with law, to discuss question on reducing of frequencies or full deprivation of broadcasting licenses at the ministry,” Kazakhstan Today cites, referring to Epokha newspaper, the head of Ministry of Culture and Information. “Our minister is very eloquent, and if we react to his every word, so broadcasting will consist only of reactions to his words,” Tatyana Lisitskaya stressed being interviewed by the REGNUM correspondent.

At the same time, warning on possible license deprivation is not first statement of Culture and Information Minister Ermukhamet Ertysbayev concerning mass-media, which was widely responded. As the REGNUM corresponded reminds, when Information and Archive Committee of Kazakhstan Culture and Information Ministry replaced leadership of republican Kazakhstan Radio and TV-Corporation (KRTVC): Nurtileu Imangaliuly replaced Galym Dosken last week, the ministry got into crisis situation with more than 120 employees, who left it in accordance with their own wish. As a result of employees’ leaving, 34 programs were stopped to be produced, which serve as basis of the cannel’s broadcasting. Released employees expressed their anxiety that new leadership is going to reduce broadcasting in Kazakh, which totals 80%, and to change its strategy, transforming Kazakhstan into international channel.

According to released TV-presenter Askar Omarov, deeds of the Culture and Information Ministry do not correspond with country’s interests. Omarov stated, he has information, offices of journalists, who left the company, were searched. He mentioned that shortly before the leaving Kazakhstan Culture and Information Minister Ermukhamet Ertysbayev met the Corporation stuff. “He labeled the whole KRTVC stuff as creatively frustrated persons. At the same time, he could not name any program,” Askar Omarov stated.