8 Amendments of Ana GOMES related to 2017/2035(INI)
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Regrets that, over the last couple of years, judicial persecution of independent journalists, civil society activists, trade union leaders and other outspoken individuals in retaliation for their exercise of freedom of expression and other fundamental freedoms has intensified;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Notes that, by law, it is compulsory for public associations to register with the authorities and involvement in unregistered associations is criminalised; regrets that the activities of registered public associations may be suspended or terminated by court for any violation of national law, no matter how minor;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Regrets that environment for the independent media outlets has become ever more hostile and a few news broadcasters and other websites that report unfavourably on government policies have been facing defamation lawsuits, or are routinely blocked;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Is concerned that the curtailment of freedom of expression in Kazakhstan includes restrictive legislation, pressure on independent and outspoken media, arbitrary blocking of websites, and criminal prosecution of journalists, political and civil society activists and social media users because of the exercise of their freedom of expression; is concerned that cases of blocking of news, social media and other websites are regularly reported;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Regrets that number of civil society activists and journalists are charged and imprisoned on the basis of a vaguely worded Criminal Code article 174 on “inciting” social, national or other discord and article 274 on “spreading information that is known to be false”; notes the list includes Maks Bokayev and Talgat Ayan, who serve 5-year prison terms for their role in peaceful land reform protests which took place in Kazakhstan on the Spring of 2016, editor Guzyal Baydalinova, civil society activists Ermek Narymbaev and Bolatbek Blyalov and political activist Serikzhan Mambetalin;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Regrets that Larisa Kharkova, President of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Kazakhstan (CITUK) was found guilty on 25 July 2017 by a court on charges of embezzlement and fraud related to the use of trade union funds, what is believed to be politically motivated charges; deplores the fact that she was sentenced to four years of court-imposed restrictions on her freedom of movement, in addition to 100 hours of community work and a ban on holding leading positions in public associations for five years; calls on Kazakhstan to drop the conviction and charges against her;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Regrets that CITUK was closed down by a court order in January 2017 for allegedly failing to confirm its status under the country’s restrictive 2014 Law on Trade Unions; refers to the Conclusions of the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards on the situation in Kazakhstan in June 2017 and calls on Kazakhstan to ensure that CITUK and its affiliates are able to exercise their trade union rights and their mandate;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Regrets that in April and May 2017 two other trade union leaders, Nurbek Kushakbayev and Amin Yeleusinov, were sentenced to two and half and two years in prison, respectively, on criminal charges also considered to be politically motivated; notes that the sentences against the three trade union leaders are a blow to independent trade union activity in the country;