The presidential administration proposed a fine of up to 100,000 soms for slander and insults in the media. The head of the Information Policy Department of the Ministry of Culture, Salkyn Sarnogoeva, announced during a round table.
Journalist Semetei Amanbekov noted that previously, for the voiced violations, citizens were offered to be fined up to 7,000 soms, and legal entities — up to 23,000 soms, and asked who increased the fines.
Salkyn Sarnogoeva noted that after the public discussion, there were no proposals from citizens to increase the fines. «It seems that the administration of the president introduced it, because there were no such proposals in the comments on the bill after the public discussion,» she said.
When asked by a human rights activist Aziza Abdirasulova what the initiators expect from the bill, the Ministry of Culture official replied that it was not possible to say what this would lead to.
«I understand the concerns that have been expressed. The state also has the right to initiate such laws in order to protect the interests of citizens. Perhaps, we should take into account the proportionality of punishments. The fines would be low, if people understood the responsibility and there was no chaos in social media,» she said.
Recall, the Code of Offenses is planned to be supplemented with an article on slander and insults in the media. The corresponding bill was adopted by the Committee of the Parliament on Transport, Communications, Architecture and Construction. According to the amendments, individuals will be fined 100,000 soms for slander and insults, and legal entities — 200,000 soms.
