Court shuts down independent newspaper

    One of Kazakhstan's few independent newspapers has been shut down.
    A court in Almaty ruled on February 24 that Pravdivaya Gazeta (The Truthful Newspaper) must be closed due to its "failure to implement the court's decisions."
    The newspaper's editors were accused of providing readers with false information on the exact number of its weekly copies, operating during a court-ruled suspension period, and for its failure to adequately address the violations.
    The editors of Pravdivaya Gazeta, which is known for its harsh criticism of the Kazakh authorities, insist the charges are politically motivated.
    The newspaper was established nine months ago and has been hit with two three-month suspensions and two hefty fines since then.
    Ramazan Esergepov, the chairman of the Journalists In Trouble NGO, told RFE/RL the court ruling will be appealed, RFE/RL reports.