The Astana police found no violations of criminal or administrative law in the actions of blogger Aida Jeksenova. An investigation was launched following a complaint by concert organiser for Russian performers Alexei Puchkov, who approached the authorities over Jeksenova's post calling for a boycott of the concert of Russian artist Timati.
“Yesterday, the police called me and told me that the investigation had been completed. No signs of a criminal or administrative offence were found. So, our police have acknowledged that a boycott is not extremism. And a civic position is not a crime,” writes the blogger on her Facebook page.
Jeksenova noted that she received support from journalists and the Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balayeva.
“I want to thank the Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Galymovna, once again. She showed me purely feminine sympathy, stood up for me, and demonstrated that the state can also be on the side of the law and common sense,” she said.
Earlier, the minister publicly supported the blogger. She stated that the ministry’s lawyers are studying the situation, and that she herself sees no violations in Jeksenova's actions.
“I’ve been following her for a long time; she’s a very active blogger and civic activist. She always has her own personal opinion. Sometimes she criticises the authorities. But it’s constructive criticism, and that’s normal,” she said.
According to the blogger, she is now considering filing a complaint for slander and false accusation against Alexei Puchkov.
She said she is consulting with the head of the law firm “QALQAN ADVISORS”, Askar Kaimakov, who has become her official legal representative.
“It’s important not only to defend myself. It’s important to set a precedent so that tomorrow no one else uses the police as a tool to pressure activists, journalists, or bloggers,” Jeksenova noted.
For context, earlier Aida Jeksenova was summoned to the department for combating extremism of the Astana police department following a complaint lodged by concert organiser for Russian performers Alexei Puchkov. The complaint concerned her post in which she called for a boycott of the artist Timati's concert, writing: “Don’t buy tickets to Timati’s concert. Don’t sponsor the war.”
The complainant saw in these words signs of an offence under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Incitement of social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious hatred”).