Offices Of Independent News Website Searched In Almaty

Several men who identified themselves as financial police officers have searched the offices of the Almaty-based independent 16/12 video news website.

16/12 is known for its reports critical of the Kazakh government.

The officers refused to explain the reason for the search to an RFE/RL correspondent on June 9 and forced him to leave the company's offices.

Two of the officials conducting the search filmed the process.

A 16/12 journalist, Sanat Urnaliev, told RFE/RL that the officials conducting the search prohibited the company’s staff from filming them.

Urnaliev also wrote on his Facebook page that the officials presented a search warrant issued by the Almaty prosecutor's office.

No more details are available.