Julia Kozlova was acquitted of case over possession of drugs

On February 29, 2016 Judge of Bostandyk District Court №2 of Almaty L. M. Bektemirova has acquitted journalist of information portal Nakanune.kz Julia Kozlova, who was charged under article 296 p. 2 "illegal manufacture, processing, purchase, storage, transportation, transfer or sale of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances and their precursors" of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan". Further, private decision of the court was made with regard to officers of the Department of Internal Affairs (Almaty) – investigative officer Tolganay Erzhanova and interrogating officer Ruslan Alkenov, who conducted pre-trial investigation with regard to Julia Kozlova. 

We would like to remind you that, on December 18, 2015 during searching procedure within the scope of pre-trial investigation under article 274 "distribution of misleading information by means of mass media" of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in flat of Julia investigative officer Tolganay Erzhanova seized teas and package of dried grass, she sealed it, as material evidence. Julia and her sister Elena, they were delivered to the Department of Internal Affairs forcibly and then, they were sent to forensic medical examination subjected to content of drugs in their organism. It was done, before that, when investigative officers knew, that seized grass – marihuanna. The expertise had positive result, but independent expertise had reverse result. 

On February 09, 2016 lawsuit was launched. Julia Kozlova was charged with possession of 19,41 grams of marihuanna. Her lawyer, Aiman Umarova during legal proceeding pointed at some grave procedural defractions and applied for acknowledge of inadmissible material evidences. The judge has kept the motion open, prior to awarding of judgment. The sentence should be pronounced on February 29, 2016, then it was postsponed to March 01, at 10.00 a.m. In the afternoon, Julia Kozlova knew, that sentence would be pronounced on February 29, 2016 at 17.00 p.m. Everyone could enter into building of court only at 19.00 p.m. The judge L. M. Bektemirova apologized for delay, she explained, that it was caused by technical problems.  

We would like to remind you that, Julia Kozlova as her colleagues of Nakanune.kz,  had been as status of witness, who had right for protection of criminal case under article 274 p.3 of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan upon suit of "KAZKOMMERTSBANK".  The arrest of editor-in-chief of Information portal Guzyal Baidalinova had been enlarged, her lawyer Inessa Kisileva had appealed it on February 29, 2016 ;it was upheld.