Kazakh Journalists Anxious About Draft Law On The Internet

Media activists in Kazakhstan have expressed concern over a draft law on the Internet being considered by parliament.

Seitkazy Mataev, chairman of the Union of Kazakh Journalists, told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that the law would introduce censorship to the Internet.

The law proposes stricter control over the Internet and allows the state to block websites.

Yuriy Mizinov, the chief editor of popular website zonakz.net, told RFE/RL that such legislation could be an attempt by the government to block the Live Journal website and others that post information about Rakhat Aliev, the former son-in-law of President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

Aliev opposes Nazarbaev and lives in self-imposed exile in Europe.

He routinely posts embarrassing or compromising documents and audio about the Kazakh government on the Internet.