Committee for Protection of Zhanbolat Mamay called on the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to protect arrested journalist
On June 06 Members of Committee for Protection of editor-in-chief of the newspaper «Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam» sent a letter to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev, where they asked to drop legal prosecution with regard to journalist.
Authors of the letter reminded about violation of presumption of innocence with regard to Zhanbolat Mamay and a lack of real grounds for his detention in custody.
Collection of signatures under appeal took a place in general post office of joint-stock company «KazPOCHTA» (“KazPOST”) in Almaty, where a letter was sent. This letter was signed by 37 members and adherents of Committee for Protection of Zhanbolat Mamay.
Zhanbolat Mamay the day before in his letter from investigatory isolation ward emphasized that the other suspected persons to whom most grave charges were brought they were on their own recognizance.
«My arrest was extended for one month. There is an interesting detail. All top-managers of “BTA Bank” have been at home during investigation. The pre-trial restraint was imposed with regard to them — a written pledge not to leave town. But, they were accused in most serious crimes than I. And amount of «legalized» was pulled out from country, it is up to USD milliards.
And according to version of the state authority, I «legalized» and used USD110000 for publication of newspaper «Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam» to be exact, but within four months I am under arrest. Inisolation ward», - hewrote.
Also, Zhanbolat Mamay said that criminal case into pressure upon him in isolation ward was terminated.
«Nevertheless, I don’t give up and I don’t take it to my heart. I know that you, my friends, who give support to me, give assistance to me and who attend closed trials. Very soon, major trials shall be launched and where I shall see you. I give my regards to everyone and I fail words to express my thanks to everyone for support! We shall fight and hope that justice might finally be served!», - journalist Zhanbolat Mamay wrote.
In the meantime it got about that owner of the newspaper «Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam» closed its enterprise it closed the door to further publication of newspaper.
Searches in the editorial office of newspaper “Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam” and in the house of its editor-in-chief Zhanbolat Mamay were conducted 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.
On 20 February Almaty City Court dismissed Mamay’s appeal and refused to change the pre-trial restriction from arrest to bail.
On 21 February the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam” Zhanbolat Mamay informed from pre-trial detention center #18 informed of beating, extortion and serious reasons to be under apprehension of his life. After the active interference of human rights groups Mamay was transferred to another cell.
On 01 April court prolonged arrest for Z. Mamay till 10 May. On April 27 court prolonged arrest for editor-in-chief of newspaper «Tribuna. Sayasi Kalam» Zhanbolat Mamay till 10 June.
On May 31, court extended the arrest to the editor-in-chief of the newspaper «Tribuna. Sayashi Kalam» Zhanbolat Mamay for one more month - until July 10.
