A man found guilty of attacking and injuring a television news cameraman in the southern Kyrgyz city of Osh received a suspended sentence of three years in jail today, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Marat Mavlyanov was found guilty of "robbery and beating" in an attack on Bahadyr Kenjebaev of the Osh-TV news station in March. Mavlyanov left the courtroom a free man.
Kenjebaev was hospitalized after the beating with a severe head injury, including a concussion and numerous bruises and other injuries.
Kenjebaev's colleagues say the attack was connected to his professional activities. One coworker said they consider the investigation of the incident and the trial "shallow and insufficient."