Another Kazakh Activist Faces Pressure Over Support For Imprisoned Journalist

A Kazakh court ordered activist Baibaq Bilalov on August 8 to pay a 77,500 tenges ($162) fine over attending a rally in support of journalist Duman Mukhammedkarim who was sentenced to seven years in prison on August 2 for financing an extremist group and participating in a banned group's activities, charges he and his supporters reject as politically motivated. Bilalov was found guilty of violating regulations for attending public events. Nine other supporters of Mukhammedkarim were detained before and after his sentence was pronounced on August 2 and sentenced to jail terms of between 10 and 20 days on the same charge.