Thread by @openDemocracy

🔴 Journalists should not be silenced by legal threats.

We are a small, not-for-profit organisation up against seriously big money. We have good lawyers helping us but our #legal bill is already in the tens of thousands.

We urgently need your support. 👇

gofund.me/00d8fe13

#Kazakhstan’s notorious president for three decades, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is regarded as a longtime ally of Vladimir Putin. His regime has been accused of sickening human rights abuses and widespread corruption.

Last January, we reported that a fund linked to Nazarbayev had ultimate control of $7.8bn of gross assets through a UK-registered company.

Now the Nazarbayev Fund and the UK company have issued defamation proceedings against us.

🗣 @PeterKGeoghegan editor in chief of openDemocracy, said: "The lawsuit is a clear attempt to intimidate openDemocracy, and independent investigative #journalism at large.

"We are a small not-for-profit #media organisation being threatened by rich and powerful organisations for reporting on what we believe is in the public interest."

"It’s another example of a disturbing pattern of the super-wealthy using British courts to deter investigations and suppress stories that they would rather keep hidden"

openDemocracy and @TBIJ - who are also being sued - are taking the unusual step of going public with this attack.

"We think it is important for people to understand how legal threats are used in this country... because we are determined to defend ourselves", said Geoghegan.

Find out how you can help here 👇

gofund.me/00d8fe13

#pressfreedom #joinourfight #dontletusbesilenced #medialaw