Another independent paper suspended in Kazakhstan

    A court in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty, has suspended the operations of an independent newspaper for three months.
    The court also ruled on September 23 that the owners of the "Ashyk Alan" (Tribune) weekly must pay a $1,130 fine for "violating the schedule of the periodical’s issuance."
    The newspaper's editors insist that their journalists were on vacation between July 10 and August 21 and that's why the newspaper wasn't issue during that time. They say they will appeal the court's decision.
    "Ashylan" is known for its articles criticizing the authorities.
    Last year, Kazakh courts suspended and/or shut down several opposition and independent newspapers and websites after prosecutors requested two opposition groups and dozens of opposition media be designated as extremist, RFE/RL states