Chief Editor of the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” Ramazan Yesergepov was committed to three years of imprisonment

There was a passing of sentence by charge of Chief Editor of the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” Ramazan Yesergepov of illegal collection and divulgence of state secrets in court № 2 of Taraz on August 08, 2009.

It has been closed judicial session. Journalists have received materials of formal press release after passing of sentence.

Yesrgepov was found guilty under articles 172 p.1 and 339 p.2 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan and committed to three years of imprisonment in standard regime penal colony. He can not make editorial activity during two years.

The charges stemmed from article “Who does rule country- President or Committee of national security?” by Ramazan Yesergepov, published in the newspaper “Alma-ata Info” on November 21, 2008. There was publication of the letter of Head of Zhambyl Regional Department of Committee of National Security to Chairman of CNS Amangeldy Shabdarbayev. There was a opening of criminal case against company “Taraz” and founder of company Sultan Makhmadov has tried to meet with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev with goal to influence on investigative process.

It has been closed judicial session. In his last word Yesergepov does not find himself guilty. Ramazan Yesergepov has made his civil and professional debt. He has made transparent facts, having public significant importance. Independent experts have made a conclusion that there were no any state secrets in documents. Illegal getting and publication was incriminated to R. Yesergepov. These documents are concerned human rights and freedoms and that is why they are not subject to state secret.

Community of Kazakhstan has made protection for Yesergepov during investigation and legal proceeding over him. They have said that criminal prosecution of the chief editor had political character. Its goal is deterrence of journalistic community.

The judgment will be appealed in appeals instance.

The SOURCE:

Adil soz

http://www.adilsoz.kz/?lan=english&id=7&newsid=716