Criminal Case Opened Against KazTAG Leadership

A criminal case has been initiated against the leadership of the KazTAG news agency, the outlet reported.

According to KazTAG, the case was opened against the agency’s general director, Aset Mataev, and editor-in-chief, Amir Kassenov, who were designated as suspects following a complaint from Freedom Finance.

KazTAG’s lawyer, Rena Kerimova, called the move unlawful, arguing that due process was violated:

Recognizing Matayev and Kasenov as suspects outside the established procedures is a gross violation. For them to be declared suspects without their participation, it would be necessary for them to be hiding or otherwise evading investigative actions, whereas neither Matayev nor Kasenov has evaded investigation.

The police secretly (from us) investigated the criminal case for several months. Moreover, they carried out several examinations (in violation of established norms) without notifying the editorial office.

Freedom Finance, whose complaint triggered the case, is controlled by businessman Timur Turlov, recently listed by Forbes Kazakhstan as one of the country’s most influential figures. 

KazTAG believes this is an attempt to pressure the media ahead of the elections. The agency also believes that representatives connected to the presidential administration may be behind it.

The case stems from KazTAG publications based on statements from victims and lawyers who accused Freedom Finance of fraudulent schemes. The editorial team claims to have requested comment from the company but received no response.

KazTAG also published a transcript of an audio conversation with Ruslan Kakenov, former director of the Freedom Finance branch. He discussed possible schemes for funneling money to Russia while circumventing sanctions.

The editorial team sent the audio recording to the US and EU embassies and government agencies in Kazakhstan.

Background Events

The reports came amid a similar situation surrounding Orda.

KazTAG’s chief editor, Amir Kassenov, had previously commented on the criminal case against Orda’s editor-in-chief, Gulnara Bazhkenova, stating:

Regardless of how anyone feels about Bazhkenova, my position — both regarding the criminal cases against her and regarding the criminal prosecution of journalists for speech under the pretext of alleged ‘knowingly false information’ — remains unchanged. The article on ‘knowingly false information’ must be fully decriminalized! It should not exist in the Criminal Code in any form… And I sincerely feel sorry for Bazhkenova. I hope everything turns out alright.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina, Original Post