ASTANA -- A court in Astana has sentenced a journalist to 15 days in jail for taking part in an unsanctioned protest.

Berik Zhaghyparov's lawyer told RFE/RL that her client was sentenced late on May 23.

Zhaghyparov pleaded not guilty, saying he was at the protest as an independent journalist to cover the event.

Police detained Zhaghyparov along with several demonstrators.

The protests began on May 21 when dozens of homeowners from around Kazakhstan demonstrated in front of the government and parliament buildings in Astana.

They demanded the government intervene over what they say are excessive mortgage interest rates and frequent foreclosures.

Two organizers of the protest were sentenced to several days in jail and two demonstrators were fined for their actions.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has rescinded his decision to bar 10 journalists from covering cabinet meetings.

Earlier, about 100 journalists demonstrated in front of the Ukrainian government building on May 23, protesting Azarov's order to withdraw press accreditations.

On May 22, the 10 journalists stepped in front of television cameras at a cabinet session and turned their backs on the ministers.

The reporters were protesting an earlier attack on two journalists in Kyiv, a husband and wife.

The journalists had signs pinned to their backs that read, "Today, it's a female journalist [beaten up], tomorrow-- your wife, sister, daughter. Do something!"

Azarov met on May 23 with the protesting journalists and urged them to "act professionally," warning that accreditations will be canceled if a similar situation happens again.

Based on reporting by UNIAN and Interfax

A man suspected in the beating of two journalists in Kyiv on May 18 has been released on bail.

A court in Kyiv ordered Vadym Titushko to pay the equivalent of $2,780 to be released from pretrial detention.

Titushko was arrested and charged with hooliganism on May 21.

He was allegedly one of several men who attacked opposition activists during an opposition gathering in Kyiv on May 18.

PHOTO GALLERY: Journalists Attacked In Kyiv

Several activists were injured, as well as two independent journalists.

Dozens of journalists protested in Kyiv on May 20, demanding the attackers be brought to justice.

Opposition lawmakers have demanded explanations regarding reports the police did nothing to stop the beatings.

The Committee to Protect Journalists and Freedom House condemned the attacks and urged Ukrainian authorities to investigate the incident.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has ordered that several local reporters be barred from covering government meetings after they staged a silent protest over the attacks.

Reporters attending a cabinet meeting on May 22 stepped in front of television cameras and turned their backs on Azarov and his colleagues.

Signs pinned to their backs read, "Today it's a female journalist [beaten up], tomorrow -- your wife, sister, daughter. Do something!"

Azarov called the act "a show" and "a circus" and told his aides to "write down their names and revoke their accreditation."

Based on reporting by UNIAN and Reuters

TURKMENABAT, Turkmenistan -- A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent based in Turkmenistan has been freed after being detained by police earlier this month.

Rovshen Yazmuhamedov told RFE/RL that he was released on May 22 after spending two weeks in custody.

It is still unclear why he was detained in the northeastern city of Turkmenabat.

Yazmuhamedov, 30, has worked for RFE/RL since September.

His reports have focused mainly on social issues.

Last week, the European Union expressed concern about his detention and urged Turkmen authorities to explain why he was being held.

Yazmuhamedov's relatives said the journalist was being held at a detention center run by the Interior Ministry's Directorate No. 6, which investigates organized crime and terrorism-related cases.

ASTANA -- A Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) correspondent, who was detained in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, while covering a protest, has been released after spending several hours in custody.

Police detained Orken Zhoyamergen along with several demonstrators on May 22.

The protests began on May 21 when dozens of homeowners from around Kazakhstan demonstrated in front of the government and parliament buildings in Astana.

They demanded that the government intervene over what they say are excessive mortgage interest rates and foreclosures.

The protesters were returning to the city center on May 22 to resume their demonstration, but police blocked their way and detained some of them, including Zhoyamergen.

HRW Wants Charges Against Journalist Dropped

Elsewhere in Kazakhstan, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has urged the country's authorities to drop criminal charges against an independent journalist and civil society activist Aleksandr Kharlamov and immediately release him from a psychiatric clinic.

In statement released on May 22, HRW Central Asia researcher Mihra Rittmann said "this is hardly the first time the authorities have used criminal incitement charges to try to silence a peaceful critic."

Kharlamov was arrested in March and charged with inciting religious hatred because of articles he wrote on world religions.

In April, he was sent from his home town of Ridder in Kazakhstan’s northeast to a psychiatric clinic in Almaty and placed under forced observation.

Kharlamov's relatives insist his case is politically motivated.

They say authorities launched investigations against Kharlamov after he published articles that accused Ridder's police of violating people's rights.

KABUL -- A leading press freedom organization in Afghanistan, Nai, has demanded an investigation into the killing of a journalist who was found dead after being missing for weeks.

In a statement, Nai called on Afghan authorities to probe the murder of Mohammad Mohsin Hashimi in northern Kapisa Province.

Abdul Woudod Haideri, district governor of Nijrab in Kapisa, told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan that Hashimi's body was recovered from a well close to his home. He had stab wounds.

Haideri said that Hashimi, 30, worked for a local radio station called the Voice of Nijrab.

Haidari said that police have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder.

Activists say three journalists have been killed in Afghanistan since the beginning of this year.

During the same period, Nai has recorded 17 incidents of violence against journalists.

With reporting by BBC Pashto

Human Rights Watch says the number of Afghan women and girls jailed for "moral crimes" has risen by 50 percent in the past 18 months.

The international rights group says the increase suggests that Afghan authorities may feel they no longer need to support women's rights as international troops prepare to withdraw from Afghanistan next year.

The group presented its findings at a press conference in Kabul on May 21. It said 600 women are now imprisoned in Afghanistan for "moral crimes."

It said most of them were victims of sexual assault and family violence who had run away from their attackers.

It appealed to President Hamid Karzai to ban jailing girls for running away from home.

It also called on international donors to focus on preserving gains in women's rights after 2014.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan