Kazakh Court Upholds Independent Weekly's Suspension

An Almaty city court has extended a one-month suspension handed down against the "Alma-Ata Info" weekly for allegedly divulging state secrets, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported. 

The newspaper's editor in chief and owner, Ramazan Esergepov, was detained by the Kazakh National Security Committee in January over specifics contained in an article from November.

Then on February 10, a special interdistrict economic court in Kazakhstan's second city ordered the weekly's suspension.

The latest decision extends that halt by another month.

"Alma-Ata Info" journalist Vladimir Voevod told RFE/RL that the newspaper's staff and supporters would continue their fight to reverse the suspension.

He added that the newspaper's editorial board is prepared to appeal to the Kyrgyz Supreme Court if necessary.