Astana, CASCFEN, Oct 29, 2012 – Kazakh newspapers “Golos Respubliki” and “Vzglyad” filed in Mangistau oblast court appeal of the “Case of Kozlov”, which insisted on the exclusion of the sentence “false information about extremist activity” of these publications.
The press release notes that, by law, third parties, if affected their rights and interests, may file an appeal. And the rights and interests of the editors have been affected directly – both were named in the verdict as “extremist”.
“Almost the court concluded that the publications in these newspapers led to riots in Zhanaozen, – explained the lawyer Sergey Utkin, representing newspapers. – In the sentence, we do not see any of the publications in question. There is a common phrase for numerous publications. What are they and how excited the oil, I do not quite understand. If we were judged, we would have the opportunity to build a line of defense”.
Meanwhile, the above-mentioned newspapers` journalists were not even aware that the investigation sent any publication for examination. They believe that because the both newspapers were not able to participate in the examination, all the statements about them as a “radicalized and extremist media” should be removed from the sentence, since they can be legitimized by another court as was proved in the trial of the “Case of Kozlov”.
At present both newspapers wait legal response to a complaint from the Mangistau regional court.
Recall the verdict on the “Case of Kozlov” was passed on October 8. Leader of the opposition Party of Kazakhstan “Alga!” Vladimir Kozlov convicted of incitement to social hatred, calling for the violent overthrow or change of the constitutional system, and the establishment of an organized criminal group. He was sentenced to 7.5 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Two other opposition politicians Akzhanat Aminov and Serik Sapargali received three years probation. In addition, the party “Alga” forfeited all apartments and cars in all regions of Kazakhstan, as they are registered on Kozlov.
The court also ordered the convicts to reimburse the cost of the examinations in the amount of more than one million tenge (over $6650).
Source: International News Agency “Fergana”
