Kazakh Journalists Say Secret Services Pressuring Them

ALMATY -- Two independent Kazakh journalists say the secret services are threatening them, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

At a press conference in Almaty on September 30, "Vzglyad" (Glance) newspaper editor Yekaterina Belyaeva and stan.kz correspondent Natalya Panova said some unidentified individuals had recently approached them and offered financial compensation if they "cooperate."

The journalists added that the people -- who they suspect are working for the Kazakh secret services -- warned them that they could be harmed if they refuse to cooperate.

"Vzglyad" Editor in Chief Igor Vinyavsky said that in such situations journalists have only one way to defend themselves, which is to make everything public. He said that is why they made their comments in public.