Court refused to change measure of restraint applied in relation to KazTAG General Director Asset Matayev

On March 16 Kapshagai City Court examined the motion of KazTAG General Director Asset Matayev to change a measure of restraint.

Asset’s relatives hoped that he would be transferred from the general regime penal colony to a colony-settlement. The administration of the general regime penal colony gave positive characteristcs to Asset and supported the petition, the prosecutor did not object either. However, the judge, after coming back from the consultation room, where he had spent quite a long time, announced his decision: to dismiss the petition. The judge did not comment his decision and did not provide any explanations.

On October 3, 2016, journalist Asset Matayev was sentenced to five years in prison for alleged fraud. He denied the accusations, and pleaded not guilty. A number of international journalistic and human rights organizations considered the verdict politically motivated.