(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The Internal Affairs Ministry has reopened the investigation of Colonel Berik Bilyalov for allegedly “provoking” reporter Grigoriy Melnikov, of “Vremya” newspaper. The ministry’s investigations unit reinstated criminal charges against Bilyalov, who was accused of “deliberately provoking” Melnikov under Article 308, Part 4, of the Kazakhstan Criminal Code (abuse of professional position for […]
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – The Internal Affairs Ministry has reopened the investigation of Colonel Berik Bilyalov for allegedly “provoking” reporter Grigoriy Melnikov, of “Vremya” newspaper.
The ministry’s investigations unit reinstated criminal charges against Bilyalov, who was accused of “deliberately provoking” Melnikov under Article 308, Part 4, of the Kazakhstan Criminal Code (abuse of professional position for personal benefit or the benefit of other people or organisations, or for the purpose of harming other people or organisations). The journalist had evidence, including dictaphone recordings, demonstrating that Bilyalov had paid a police spy to provoke the journalist to fight with him. According to Melnikov, the spy confessed that Bilyalov wanted a fight to take place in order to file a charge of “hooliganism” and imprison the journalist.
In March 2004, Melnikov said that the provocation was in retaliation for an article he wrote, entitled, “Your Life Costs $200”, which criticised Bilyalov’s activities. At that time, criminal charges for “abuse of authority” were brought against Bilyalov based on Article 308 of the Criminal Code. In September, the case was closed, and Bilyalov filed a countersuit against Melnikov, for “protection of honour and dignity”. Judge Zhamukanov, of the Petropavl court, found Melnikov guilty and obliged him to pay 30,000 tenge (approx. US$230) for “moral damages”. The charges against Bilyalov carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
