A court in Kazakhstan's western city of Oral has sentenced a man for organizing the attempted murder of a prominent journalist.
The director of the equestrian school in Oral, Nurlan Takhambetov, received 14 years in jail on April 24 for his role in planning the attempted murder of Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a reporter for the "Uralskaya nedelya" weekly.
Takhambetov pleaded not guilty.
Akhmedyarov was stabbed and shot with an air pistol in April 2012. He survived the attack.
In an unusual move, Akhmedyarov said that he believes Takhambetov's guilt was not proven in the courtroom.
Last year, four local men were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for carrying out the attack.
Akhmedyarov's articles criticizing local authorities sparked controversy and legal actions against him in 2012.
Akhmedyarov received the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism in 2012 in Washington.
The director of the equestrian school in Oral, Nurlan Takhambetov, received 14 years in jail on April 24 for his role in planning the attempted murder of Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a reporter for the "Uralskaya nedelya" weekly.
Takhambetov pleaded not guilty.
Akhmedyarov was stabbed and shot with an air pistol in April 2012. He survived the attack.
In an unusual move, Akhmedyarov said that he believes Takhambetov's guilt was not proven in the courtroom.
Last year, four local men were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for carrying out the attack.
Akhmedyarov's articles criticizing local authorities sparked controversy and legal actions against him in 2012.
Akhmedyarov received the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism in 2012 in Washington.
