U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan expressed concern about the criminal case against Seitkazy Matayev

Almaty. August 17. Silkroadnews – U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan George Krol expressed his concern on criminal case against the head of Kazakhstan's Union of Journalists Seitkazy Matayev, KazTAG reports.

«Along with you we are well aware of this case. We will examine the process, as our guest (Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights at the U.S. State Sarah Sewall – Silkroadnews) said, it is a matter of concern, (...) followed not only by us, but by other diplomatic missions as well, including the OSCE and others. The matter is of particular concern, and we will raise this issue at the meeting with representatives of the national leadership. We take this seriously», G. Krol said at the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.

As reported, on July 12 the Almaty anti-corruption agency turned the case over to the Almaty prosecutor's department. On July 21 prosecutors served a charging document to S. Matayev and turned the criminal case over to the Esil district court №2 in Astana.

The head of the Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan S. Matayev is ready to deny all the charges in the open court with representatives of the public and international press participation.

A pre-trial hearing was held on August 3, when the head of the Esil district court #2 of Astana Akbulut Kurmantayev dismissed the petitions of lawyers of Seitkazy and Aset Matayevs to replace the preventive measure against the defendants from house arrest on bail, turn the case over to the competent court in Almaty, carry out additional forensic financial expertise.