Kazakh information minister promises to look into detentions of journalists Saturday
ASTANA. May 21 (Interfax) - Kazakh Information and Communications Minister Dauren Abayev has promised to look into the detentions of journalists by law enforcement officials on Saturday.
"Yes, we will support journalists generally in their work and in performing their professional duties," Abayev told journalists in commenting on the incident on Saturday.
Asked whether the ministry would work with the law enforcement to make sure that no such incidents happen in the future, Abayev said, "Certainly, let me assure you."
"This is also why the new information and communications ministry has been set up," Abayev said. "I learned about the detention of your colleagues, contacted the interior ministry, and all circumstances are being analyzed now. We will work to find out why they were detained," he said.
It was reported earlier that police in Astana had detained a group of journalists who gathered on a square near the Baiterek monument to cover an unsanctioned rally planned by activists protesting against amendments to the Land Code. About an hour later, the journalists were freed.
Journalists from the Novy Vestnik (New Messenger) and a filming crew from the 101tv television channel were also detained in Karaganda later in the day.
