Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for thorough investigation of the attack on Ramazan Esergepov

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) made a statement on the knife attack on the head of the NGO Journalists in Danger Ramazan Esergepov and called for a full and impartial investigation that takes account of the possibility that the attack was a reprisal for his professional activities.

 “We condemn this extremely violent attack, which highlights the gravity of the situation that Kazakh journalists and human rights defenders are nowadays facing. The investigation conducted by the local authorities must be carried out in a complete and impartial manner and that full consideration will be given to the hypothesis that the attack was in retaliation for Esergepov’s professional activities” - said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.

The investigators currently seem to be working on the assumption that the attack was the result of an argument with fellow passengers, which Esergepov insists, was not the case.

The attack was the eighth in the past year on a civil society activist in Kazakhstan, none of which has been solved.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ gave support to journalist.

On May 14 Chairman of the Board of Directors of Public Foundation Journalists in Troubles Ramazan Esergepov was attacked in train. R. Esergepov got knife abdomen wound and was delivered to the hospital of Shu, where he received a surgery. On May 16 R. Esergepov was delivered to one of the hospitals of Almaty to continue his treatment.

Department of Internal Affairs on transport began the pre-trial investigation under article 24 “Preparation for crime and attempt to commit crime and article 99 “Murder” of Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.