ASTANA -- A former head of Kazakhstan's National Security Committee (KNB) and current lawmaker has vowed to sue a publication for defamation over its claim he had a sexual affair, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
The weekly "Golos Respubliki" (The Voice of Republic) published an article that included a photograph of someone resembling 70-year-old Colonel General Sat Tokpakbaev engaged in sexual relations with a young woman.
Tokpakbaev said the image, an apparent screen grab from a video, is "a dirty fake" that was used to damage his reputation. He is suing because the newspaper "hurt his dignity and honor" by publishing the material.
He said he has asked the KNB "to investigate the case and punish those who fabricated the video."
Some observers have suggested the video actually damages the reputation of another KNB general whose daughter is purportedly in the video with Tokpakbaev.
The author of the "Golos Respubliki" article said the video appeared on the Internet shortly after the December 7 sacking of KNB Chairman Amangeldy Shabdarbaev, and he believes senior officials are engaged in an interclan feud.
Tokpakbaev was KNB head from 1993-95 and defense minister from 1999-2001.
The weekly "Golos Respubliki" (The Voice of Republic) published an article that included a photograph of someone resembling 70-year-old Colonel General Sat Tokpakbaev engaged in sexual relations with a young woman.
Tokpakbaev said the image, an apparent screen grab from a video, is "a dirty fake" that was used to damage his reputation. He is suing because the newspaper "hurt his dignity and honor" by publishing the material.
He said he has asked the KNB "to investigate the case and punish those who fabricated the video."
Some observers have suggested the video actually damages the reputation of another KNB general whose daughter is purportedly in the video with Tokpakbaev.
The author of the "Golos Respubliki" article said the video appeared on the Internet shortly after the December 7 sacking of KNB Chairman Amangeldy Shabdarbaev, and he believes senior officials are engaged in an interclan feud.
Tokpakbaev was KNB head from 1993-95 and defense minister from 1999-2001.