Slain Kyrgyz Journalist Buried; Probe Likely
Almaz Tashiev had been in the hospital since the July 4 attack.
July 13, 2009
Independent journalist Almaz Tashiev has been buried in southern Kyrgyzstan one day after succumbing to injuries suffered in a beating, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
Tashiev, who worked for the independent newspaper "Agym" (Stream), was buried in his home village of Jar-Korgon in the Nookat district of the Osh region.
He died on July 12 in the Osh regional hospital of injuries suffered on July 4 in Nookat.
Tashiev, 32, told RFE/RL while he was in hospital with massive internal injuries that he was severely beaten by drunken policemen after an argument.
The Nookat district police deny the accusation.
But Suiunbek Satybaldiev, the prosecutor-general of the Nookat district, told RFE/RL that there is some evidence to support the claims by Tashiev and his relatives regarding alleged police involvement in his beating.
He said the case will be further investigated.
Tashiev had worked for several media outlets, most recently with "Agym."
Melis Tashiev, the younger brother of Almaz, said that on the day he was beaten, Almaz and friend Rustam Kulushev went to the police department to apply for a new passport.
He said an informal party was being held to mark the promotion of a new head of the police station when a policeman started arguing with Almaz.
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