Journalist Alexandra Alyokhova has been sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment, suspended for a period of 5 years, and banned from working as a journalist for 3 years. The sentence was handed down by the Almaly District Court of Almaty in a closed court session.
WHAT SENTENCE DID THE COURT HAND DOWN
As journalist Zhanna Baitelova reported on her Facebook page, the court found Alexandra Alyokhova guilty under Part 5 of Article 147 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Causing substantial harm to the rights and legitimate interests of a person as a result of the unlawful dissemination in the mass media of personal data constituting their private secret").
The court sentenced her to 3 years' imprisonment, suspended for 5 years — until 2031, and also banned her from working as a journalist for a period of 3 years.
The criminal case relates to 2022 publications about the Kenzhekhan market. According to the prosecution's version of events, the journalist unlawfully disseminated information about the previous criminal convictions and police registration of Yelena Sadvakasova.
Previously, for disseminating the same information, journalist Oleg Gusev from Temirtau was convicted. He was given 3 years' imprisonment on probation, taking into account an amnesty, and was also banned from working as a journalist for 3 years.
WHAT WAS SAID BY THE "ADIL SOZ" FOUNDATION
The International Foundation for the Protection of Freedom of Speech "Adil Soz" had previously expressed concern over the criminal prosecution of the journalist. The foundation stated that Alexandra Alyokhova, in their view, had referred to information that had already been published in one of the Telegram channels.
According to the foundation, the owner of the channel who first posted this information was not brought to criminal responsibility, while the police officer who allowed the data leak was subjected to disciplinary action. "Adil Soz" believes that the criminal prosecution of journalists should be carried out in accordance with the principles of legality and where there are sufficient legal grounds.
The Legal Media Centre calls the case precedent-setting, since previously in Kazakhstan journalists had not been criminally prosecuted for using personal data that, it is claimed, was already in the public domain, including having been published on the website of the Supreme Court.
WHAT ALEXANDRA ALYOKHOVA IS KNOWN FOR
Alexandra Alyokhova is known for investigations into socially significant topics. In 2018, she published a piece about plans to build a road through the pomological garden in the Talgar district, where a collection of apple and pear varieties is held, including forms of the Kazakh Aport. The article drew widespread public attention to the potential destruction of part of a unique scientific collection and became one of the most prominent journalistic publications devoted to its protection.
In addition to her journalistic work, Alexandra Alyokhova has taken part in public activities. In 2013, she was one of the activists of the "For Fair Maternity Payments" movement, which put forward proposals on issues of social support for women and maternity payments. Movement participants held negotiations with government bodies and proposed changes to tax legislation relating to compensation for employers' expenses on payments to female employees on maternity leave.
She also took part in the creation of a trade union campaign, whose stated aims were the protection of women's labour rights and assistance with employment and pay issues.
