Banned Kazakh Newspaper's Editor Fined

Tatyana Trubacheva, editor in chief of the newspaper "Golos respubliki," is expected to face trial on February 7.

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- An Almaty court has fined the editor in chief of a banned Kazakh newspaper for violating the ban.

Tatyana Trubacheva's "Golos respubliki" (Voice of the Republic) newspaper and dozens of other media outlets were banned in December 2012 for carrying what the authorities deemed "extremist content."

The court ruled on February 7 that Trubacheva must pay a $220 fine after she and her team started printing a new newspaper called "Ripablik" two weeks ago.

On the new weekly's pages, Trubacheva is identified as "Ripablik's" reader in chief.

"Ripablik" issues 99 copies a week, which allows it to avoid official registration.

Trubacheva's lawyer told RFE/RL that she will appeal the court's decision.

Before the hearing started on February 7, the newspaper's journalists staged a protest in front of the court building calling the court action an act of oppression against independent media in Kazakhstan.