Three Russian journalists detained in Kazakhstan
December 19th, 2011 - 5:58 am ICT by IANSMoscow, Dec 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Three Russian journalists covering riots in western Kazakhstan were detained without any reason Sunday, Russia’s Kommersant business daily said on its website.
“The journalists were detained Sunday by people with automatic rifles in the square of the town of Zhanaozen without the explanation of any reasons,” Kommersant said.
The three journalists were Kommersant special correspondent Vladimir Solovyov, photo correspondent Vasily Shavoshnikov, and also Lenta-ru correspondent Ilya Azar.
“During the detainment, some of their personal belongings were seized. The journalists were in Kazakhstan to cover the riots that had erupted in the country’s west. In about four hours after they were detained, the journalists were released,” the paper said.
Kommersant Editor-in-Chief Mikhail Mikhailin later said that the journalists were released personally by Kazakhstan interior minister Kalmukhanbet Kasymov.
At least 11 people were killed and over 70 injured as striking oil workers clashed with police in the western town of Zhanaozen Friday. Eyewitnesses claim police fired on unarmed protesters, a charge denied by the authorities.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has ordered an investigation into the worst violence in the former Soviet state in years.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
sd
- Parliamentary polls begin in Kazakhstan - Jan 15, 2012
- Kazakh journalist stabbed - Apr 21, 2012
- Kazakhs in Delhi can vote for Sunday's Kazakhstan polls - Jan 13, 2012
- Kazakh restive town normal, UN experts invited - Dec 23, 2011
- Suicide bomber targets Kazakh state security building - May 17, 2011
- Kazakh cops jailed for attacking protesters - May 29, 2012
- Britain eyes Afghanistan transit routes - Mar 02, 2012
- Geologists name new mineral after Kazakh president - Dec 01, 2011
- 10 killed during clashes on Kazakhstan's independence day - Dec 17, 2011
- Kazakh president calls election fair, opposition cries foul - Apr 04, 2011
- British, Japanese journalists held in Bahrain - Apr 23, 2012
- Depressurised plane makes emergency landing in Russia - Jan 24, 2012
- Exhausted Russian reporters plan anti-demonstration protest - Mar 13, 2012
- Kazakhstan holds presidential polls - Apr 03, 2011
- Russian journalists assaulted - May 04, 2012
Tags: automatic rifles, business daily, detainment, eyewitnesses, interior minister, kazakh, kommersant, lenta ru, nursultan nazarbayev, oil workers, personal belongings, president nursultan nazarbayev, ria novosti, riots, russian journalists, soviet state, special correspondent, striking oil, unarmed protesters, vladimir solovyov