Accessibility links

Breaking News

Kazakhstan Reduces Charges Against Chief Of Journalists' Union


ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Kazakh authorities have reduced the charges against the head of the Kazakh Journalists' Union and chairman of the National Press Club, a local media rights group says.

The Almaty-based Adil Soz (A Just Word) organization said on May 25 that the charges against Seitqazy Mataev had been reduced from embezzlement and tax evasion to abuse of trust.

Investigators made the decision on May 23, according to Adil Soz.

Mataev was detained by police in February and a court in Almaty ordered him to stay in pretrial detention.

He denies any wrongdoing.

Rights organizations have also denounced the charges against Mataev as retaliation for his work as head of the journalists' union.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service offers informed and accurate reporting in the Kazakh and Russian languages about issues that matter in Kazakhstan, while providing a dynamic platform for audience engagement and the free exchange of news and ideas.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG