Committee to Protect Journalists demanded to immediately release Zhanbolat Mamay

On 13 February Committee to Protect Journalists demanded to immediately release Zhanbolat Mamay, the editor-in-chief of “Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam” newspaper.

“Kazakhstan’s authorities have systematically cleansed the country’s news media of dissenting voices, and the arrest of Zhanbolat Mamay is one more step in that direction,” said Nina Ognianova, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia Program coordinator. “Kazakhstan should release the editor without delay and cease harassing him for his work.”

CPJ stated that Mamay stands accused of illegally receiving funds from opposition leader and former head of BTA Bank Mukhtar Ablyazov, who faces similar charges in absentia from his exile in France. If found guilty, Mamay faces up to seven years in prison.

According to CPJ, Ablyazov denies his acquaintance with Mamay.

“Ablyazov, who is wanted in Kazakhstan on charges of laundering some US $6 billion while he was the head of BTA Bank, today wrote on Facebook called the charges against Mamay “absurd,” noting that he had never met the journalist, “who was 17-20 years old in the period of 2005-2009, when the money laundering allegedly took place.” The opposition leader denies the charges against him as well, and has for years fought Kazakhstan’s requests to extradite him” – says CPJ.

There was information on conduction of searches in the editorial office of newspaper “Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam” and in the house of its editor-in-chief Zhanbolat Mamay. on February 10, 2017. Later the same day Zhanbolat Mamay was detained by officers of National Anti-Corruption Bureau within the scope of investigation of the case over embezzlement of “BTA” bank funds by Mukhtar Ablyazov.

On February 11, 2017 Medeu District Court of Almaty sanctioned arrest of the editor-in-chief of  “Tribuna” newspaper Zhanbolat Mamay for two months within the frameworks of investigation of the criminal case on embezzlement “BTA Bank” funds by Mukhtar Ablyazov.

Before his arrest  Zhanbolat Mamay made a public statement:

“I, Zhanbolat Mamay, I do not plead myself guilty to charges brought against me. I have never carried out any business or financial activity. I consider this criminal proceeding to be politically motivated pressure brought upon my journalistic activity and attempt to close newspaper “Tribuna”.