(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 16 February 2005, the Arkalyk city court held a final hearing in the case against journalist Zhumat Anesuly. Anesuly was charged with defaming city akim (mayor) Zhomart Tubekbayev under Article 129 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from a 28 October 2004 article in “Zhas Alash” newspaper, entitled “Aydalada Kalgan […]
(Adil Soz/IFEX) – On 16 February 2005, the Arkalyk city court held a final hearing in the case against journalist Zhumat Anesuly. Anesuly was charged with defaming city akim (mayor) Zhomart Tubekbayev under Article 129 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code. The charges stemmed from a 28 October 2004 article in “Zhas Alash” newspaper, entitled “Aydalada Kalgan Arkalyk”, which criticised local authorities. Tubekbayev had demanded a three-year prison sentence against the journalist. The court found Anesuly guilty and fined him 65,000 tenge (approx. US$500), which is roughly equivalent to five months of the journalist’s salary.
