Trial on case over slander against journalists of newspaper “Uralskaya Nedelya” (“Ural's Week”) was launched

Uralsk City Court (West Kazakhstan) has launched primary trial. The newspaper publisher “Uralskaya Nedelya” (“Ural's Week”) Tamara Eslyamova, its journalist Talgat Umarov and lawyer Abzal Kuspanov were charged with slander under article 130 p.3 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 

We would like to remind you that 02 March, 2015 judge of Uralsk City Court (West Kazakhstan Oblast) R. Zhumagulov has made a rule on their indictment as defendants.

At the same time, Uralsk City Court has accepted complaint of Deputy of Maslikhat (West Kazakhstan Oblast) Alibek Satbaev. He charged newspaper publisher “Uralskaya Nedelya” (“Ural's Week”) Tamara Eslyamova, its journalist Talgat Umarov and lawyer Abzal Kuspanov with slander under article 130 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The private prosecutor thought, that in article “Daughter works in court, son works in prosecutor's office” which was published in the newspaper on April 17, 2014 they spread misleading information about him, concerning case over stealing of KZT15000000 (1USD=185.56). In article, there was mention of words of lawyer Abzal Kuspanov during trial, that investigative officers sheltered main suspect person Alibek Satbaev from responsibility because of influential children who worked in court and prosecutor's office.   

It is noteworthy, that Tamara Eslyamova is not a director of LLP “Zhurnalistkaya Initsiativa” - owner of newspaper “Uralskaya Nedelya” (“Ural's Week”) at the time the article was published. The claim with regard to her was disallowed.

The first trial was launched at 10 a.m. on March 16, 2015. The  judge of Uralsk City Court (West Kazakhstan Oblast) R. Zhumagulov has considered a case. The lawyer of Talgat Umarov Ruslan Shagataev has filed petition of vindication of materials of criminal case towards corruption-related crimes, where Alibek Satbaev was involved, in order to find out whether he has been the suspected person. The court has granted petition. It has emerged, that in the fall of 2013 City Prosecutor's Office has decerned, in order to name him as suspected person under article 316 “Negligence” of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Four days ago, a charge was dropped.

During slander trial, it is emerged that son of Alibek Satbaev really works in Prosecutor's Office of Taskalinsk District and daughter works in court of Almaty.    

At 17.00 p.m. parties proceeded to disputes. Talgat Umarov explained, that he had notany intention, in order to slander Satbaev. He covered the trial on case over stealing of KZT15000000 (1USD=185.56) and put forward arguments of both parties (it means arguments of prosecution and defense team. Furthermore, he called to Alibek Satbaev, in order to receive comments; Alibek Satbaev said to him, that after trial he wiould deal with everyone and put the phone down. 

It is also worth noting that, Alibek Satbaev has already won civil case on protection of honour and dignity. As a result of it, court has imposed Talgat Umarov, LLP “Journalistkaya Initsiativa” and lawyer Abzal Kuspanov on recovery of KZT300000 in favour of plaintiff solidarily and also, pay for him services of lawyer in the amount of KZT100000 (1USD=185.35). After that,  Alibek Satbaev filed a complaint against them, in order to institute criminal proceedings against them for slander.   

The sentence will be pronounced at 12.00 a.m. on March 20, 2015.